The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-06-16
The Indemnity Question in England

iHe luuemnlby aueSblOu III england
! La the House of Commons on the 2Gth
Sir e. Walsh asked Lord PaImerston it the
Government had received from the United
States any formal official domand for com
pensation TO. American subjects for losses
sustained by tho Alabama or any othor
Confederate cruiser, alleged to havo been
equipped IN British ports
Lord Palmerston said the\correspondencc
had boon going on for some> timo between
the two Governments on the prizes taken
by the Alabama and other vessels of the
same kind. There had been further cor
respondence received within tho last few
days through Mr.. Adams, but he had n6t
yet bad timo to answer Ii. He might add
that in that correspondence, in which each
Government had expressed its views of the
case, the question had been discussed in tho
most friendly and amicable terms.
The London Tines, in an editorial, trusts
that there is nothing in tho Alabama affair
which Deod causo apprcbcnsions of rup.
ture either now or at any future timo. The
American commercial marine has indeed
suffered, but such o calamity must be ex
pccted when rparatime and trading state
Uutors into cartel with an energetic and
active enemy. It is with clear conscience
that the Government, which declined every
invitation to interfere in the war, even by
offers of mediation, nov stands on it's legal
rights and refuses to make any compensa-
ton where it has done no wrong.
Tho London Daily News. hopes that, if
President johnson does not intend to pive
up the claim, he will soon prefer It, so that
either one way or tho other, tie matter
may bo brought to settlement. It adds /.
Lord Pa|morston's reply last night was very
unsat tlsfactory. 1t would bo very hard to
say that formal and official demand had
been made by tho United States, or that it
had not.
The News trusts that some member OF
Parliament will insist upon knowing wbeth.
or a definite demand has been made for in.
demniiy, and whotber new demands havo
boon made siEcc President Johnson's accos
sion to power, md it adds We have not
the slightest doubt as to tho inevitable reply.
The correspondence of tho London Post
says that correspondence can lead to only
ono result, namely, unconditional refusal on
our part to indemnify Americans for losses
occasioned by the chances of war.
Tho Times. in another article on the
claim, sayst Not single precedent can be
produced, We believe, .or tho allowance of
a similar claim nndor similar circumstances.
ana nc rn'o OF national laY onjoins us to
pay for the mischief done by the Alabama.
The Times asks: Had the American Gov.
ornment done its part with adequate vigor
against these privateers: and saws: It wns
doubtless our pnrttc prevent tho Alabama
and her consorts from putting to sea, If but
evidence of tboir war-ikc equipment could
be obtained; but whose part was it to cap.
ture her after sho had given US the slip? As
i was, tho United States Government pre-.
fors to employ all the fleet in blockading
which'leaves Us to guard our own outlet as
best VIC can. 1t would bo Unreasonable. as
we'll as nntenable in law, to hold us for oy-
cry case in which the >Confedora.es were too
quick for US. For those British subjects
who did all in their power to thwart tho,
honorable intentions of the Goyotnment,
we have not q word to say, but their acts
wero not tho acts of the nation, which has
suffered far more than individuals have
gained by the untoward escape Of the Ala.
Dama.
In the House Of Commons. questions
vero asked as to the reported demands of
he American Government on account OF
he Alabama's depredations. Lord Palmer
ton said that tho communications that had !
'een taking place for claims lately made
voro Of the samo kind as formerly. HeI
'ouid not say whether tho instructions wero
ssued by President johnson or Lincoln. -
dc said an impression prevailed since John
sons accession that new claims had bee n
made in totally different spirit than for. !
nerIy. That impression was altogether un.
founded. MIR. Seward said no fresh do.
DaDds bad been made.