Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-11-04
our claims upon England.


We have read carefully the correspond
ence between our minister 10 London ond
the British Government, relative to the
claims Of this country for the losses grow
ing out OF the piracies OF the Alabama and
Shenandoah, and have failed to iud 10 il.
the ground for apprehension which many
Of the Eastern papers affect to feel concern
ing it. ' ...'
This correspondence was first published
10 the Official London Guzstte, and It's chief
significance is TO be found in the fact that
1t has thus been authori,atively midc pub.
lie by the British Government. II may
mean more. but it seems to us. to mean on
lythat EarlRussell thinks his position in the
controversy unassailable, and publishes It
to show the world what shrewd diplomat
ist he is. 'li au- g1H pc '"ai ,'-''.l
The correspondence. iu brief, amounts to
This: tina. England refuses to recognize the
validity of the claims andrefuses to submit.
them to arbitration. She is willing, how
ever, to submit TO commission consisting
Of English and American citizens ali claims
Of the Two nations upon each other growing
out ofthe late war. EarlRessell afirms that
Her Msjesty's Government are not willing
to submit to the arbitration Of any fofeig o
power the question whether they have act
ed in good faith, and observed an impartial
neutrality, and used due diligence in enforc.
ing their Foreign Enlistment Act, nor
are they willing to submit to such, arbtra!
ton the question whether they properly
constructed their own laws applicable to
the existing controversy. .'' '@ 10
| The issue is thus made up, aud the con.
troversey is narrowed down to three
points: lst. shall we go to war with Eng
land to enforce these claims; or 81, shall we
agree to refer them to the proposed com.
mission; or 81, shall we, without acknowl
edging the principle Of international law
laid down by England, patiently wait until
we have en- opportunity Of turning The to.
bles and apply that principle against her
as remorselessly as she seeks to apply it to
Us? t....... .. ......-... ...
| A resort to war does not seem at oil pro.
bable; Mr.. Adams for the American gov.
ernment, practically declines according to
the appointment CT commission; and there
is therefore, nothing left us but to wait un.
til we have the chance of making the 10
ternational invention of Earl Russell return
to plague its inventor.
The doctrine laid down by Errl Russell,
that Great Britain having faithfully execut.
ed her neutrality laws, is not responsible
for anydamage inflicted upon our commerce
by pirates fitted out in her ports, is one
from which she may suffer terribly il she
ever again becomes involved in war. In
case of the breaking out OF hostii-
ties between England and France OF
England and Russia. Alabamas and
Shenadoahs could be fitted out in onr ports
with as much propriety as they we're 6ted
out in theirs, and they would soon sweep
every vestige of British commerce from the
ocean. She would then have abundant
opportunity to realize that theory invent
ed to enable herself to escape from an un-
pleasant dilemma With us, is not just the
thing when she made the object Of its appl
cation. Haman undoubtedly thought the
gallows be constructed for Mordccai
splendid thing; but wen be came to swing
from 1t himself he probably chaged his
opinion.
DErAuLrKR The estate Of A. p. Stone,
deceased the delaul,ing collector Of the Co.