Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-12-01
JoNArnAN vs. IoHN RItlL.

John Bull uneasy. Stubborn as he is, it is
clear that he is not without trepida,icn. The
following article is just now of more than or
dinary interest.
From the London Time, Nov. ilth Editorial
Amid all the excitement which attends the
reconstruction Of the United States and the
settlement of some of the most difficult
questions which have ever pressed upon
people, the Americans still find leisure to
talk and write angrily about the ravages Of
the Alabama and their consequent claims on
the British Government There is no use in
concealing that, as far as the uttetances Of
their press and the tone Of their private con-
versation indicate their temper, there is
as much determination on their part to uphold
these claims as there is on our part 20 reject
them. The Atlantic cities lead opinion, and
to foreigners they entirely represent it. The
Atlantic cities have been the chief losers by
the exploits Of the Confederate cruisers
They may have made money in other ways
but their shipping has been wofully crippled
lldeed, the expression commonly used, that
the American merchant marine was swept
from the seas, hardly exaggerates the loss suf-
Tered by the shippers Of New York and Bos-
ton The actual destruction caused by the
Alabama represents but small part of the
real damage. American ships could get no
ireghts, while those Of English vessels rose
unprecedentedly Numbers of their vessels
we're transferred to foreign owners ani sailed
under foreign flags National loss, and in
some degree national humiliation, have m ade
the American public angry beyond measure,
and certainly there is no people in the world
which would be inclined to bear such things
patiently. This feeling has been so strong
that Mr.. Seward has been unable to give as
any delay in the matter. While the war las
ted the claims might remain 10 abeyance, but
no sooner was 1t over than public opinion
forced the Secretary of State to send 10 his
bill He did so, and Mr.. Adams urged the
demand with all the energy and ability Of
which he is master. These gentlemen, how
ever, found equal ability and knowledge Of
international law arrayed on the side Of Eng
land, and the result was the late correspon-
dence, which, while il does credit 20 the po-
liucal talents Of the two nations, cannot be
said TO have brought the matters in debate
between them nearer settlement.
The publication Of the cores pondence has,
1 Of course, beer followed by much comment
4 in America. The press is for the most part
angry in tone, the organs friendly to the Cow
eminent and supposed to be connected with
| il being generally the sharpest in their re-
marks. They reiterate all that has been made
[ the foundation of American complaints since
I the beginning of the late war. They tell us
that we recognized the oellgerency OF the
ConfedeTates without cause, and only for the
purpose Of encouraging them to send out pri-
vateers. They conclude that our only motive
for doing this was the conviction that the
United States had come to an end, and a wish
to stand we'll with a new Power which would
fight its way to independence. They urge
with more plsusibility that the Alabama and
its sister ships were in fact British vessels,
having no connection with the Confederate
States save the presence Of one or two COM
missioned officers, and that they were prac-
tically pirates, sent out to prey upon ccn-
merce under the guise Of war. The answer
to these accusations is, however, not difficult.
We may put aside the question Of recognition
Of bellgerency, which mas been discussed till
there is no more to be said it, aud with
regard to which even the partlsans of the
American Government, among those who have
studied the question, admit that the United
States have no cause Of complaint The only
important mater is the damage TO American
commerce caused by the cruisers, aud on this
point we must think that such misfortuneS
are the natural result Of a state Of war. When
a maritime nation ventures upon the argu-
meut of force, it must take the chance of one
or two such vessels being surreptitiously ob-
tanned by its adversary from neutral snip
builders Where there is an open trade in
arms aud munitions Of war, there will always
DO thoee who VIII endeavor TO oyerstep the
line which divides the supply Of these things
from the supply OF shipping and the only
question is whether the neutral Government
has exercised due care in endeavoring to pre-
vent the equipment and in fulfilling the du-
lies OF its neutrality. On this point we have
no fear for the credit of this country. Fiom
first to last the British Government did its
best to prevent any subject of the q leen from
embArking in illegal traffic, aud we shall be
quite content, when at any future time the
conditions are reversed, when England is bel
I iigefent and the United states the neutral, if
the duties of neutrality shall be performed
as well as they were by Lord Pamerston and
/ Lord Russell We believe that the American
Government Is not blind to the loyalty and
uprightness displayed by the British Minis
try, and that when public feeling cools sutii-
cently II will be willing to let these questions
drop. Mr.. Seward il said, originally made
tnt OHtF OF AZ DiLtdtlOu as u SpuCtHeAoH W hhto
country, and with the desire to give facilities
to our Government to evade an inconycnlent
decision. That offer having been declined,
he will have no desire TO press 1t, or to make
a grievance Of the refusal OF our Government
TO entertain it. The counter proposal OF Lord
Russell to refer certain matters to Commits
sion will probably not be acceptable to the
Washington Government, since the claims on
account of the Alabama and Shenandoah have
been expressly excepted. The only issue of
the affair, as far as wo can see, is that no
agreement will be come to, and that matters
will remain as they are. 1t is impossible for
the American Government to abandon these
claims. The people would probably forget
all the services of Mr.. Seward and demand
his dismissal il he were to confess to Eng
that his countrymen had no right to compen-
sation. Bat it is quite possible for u-yern'
ment to yield nothing, and yet to do nothing
We must be prepared to be told that the
United States will abate no jot OF their de-
mands, and will reserve for themselves the
a e .sl. ntsfa suha n he