The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-15

Our Claims Against EnElaud-Tho Timc Seu
aPronpt Demand for Indemnity mt Hand.
The steamer City of Boston brings q special
despatch to the HERALD containing an impor-
tant extract from the London Times of Octo-
Der 4, on the subject Of the Alabama claims.
The action Of the administration with regard
to the Fenian invasion of Canada and the
presence and demonstrations of our formida-
bic iron-clads In English waters have had their
effect, and the Times article indicates a
radical change in public opinion on the subject
OF indemnity. 1t is proposed that commits
sion shall DO appointed, embracing eminent
jurists Of all maritime nations, to deliberate
on the duties as we'll as rights Of
neutrals in time Of war; and 1t adds that il this
commission shall convince the English govern
ment that some indemnity is due the United
States for the grievous injury inflicted on her
commerce by the Alabama and Shenandoah,
1t will then not be too late to make PREPARATION.
The Times says England should have no false
pride on the subject Of submitting the claims to
mixed commission, and hints that no country
has more to lose by Lax Interpretation Of tho
laws which she violated than has England.
II is significant that at the moment England
is preparing to abandon her position the people
Of this country are growing more determined in
their purpose of obtaining their just indemnify.
On Saturday last "a number of gentlemen
representing claimants for indemnify from
England waited upon the President and urged
upon him the necessity of immediate action"
It was suggested "that demand should be
Immediately made for indemnify within thirty
days." with the alternative Of the seizure Of
Canada, to be held as q sort Of hostage for
payment Of said claims. It appears that
the Presidents political friends favor the
movement, on the ground that even If war
with England should follow it would have q
good effect in healing our party discussions
and in bringing all parties to happy accord
in the restoration of the Union and in support
of the administration in decisive settlement
with England.
The main idea here presented is that war with
England must necessarily result from .
peremptory demand for q settlement of these
claims But why war? 1t Is apparent, we
think, from the article which we have quoted
that If q positive demand in the premises were
made, requiring the simple answer Of yea or
nay from England, the money would be forth
coming. General Jackson, In his day, put in
demand upon France for similar indemnities
to the extent Of five millions of dollars, with
the alternative of reprisals upon French COM
merce, and what was the RESULT After some
little chaffering and an appeal by France
to the King Of Belgium, the justice Of the
demand was admitted and the cash was
sent over. Let this suggested demand be
made upon England, and the twenty or thirty
millions indemnity involved will be con-
sidered . mere bagatelle compared with
the tremendous sacrifices and fearful disas-
tiers that would result to her from war
at this time with the United States. Such
war would entail the immediate loss Of
sessions, her navy would be demolished by
our superior iron-clads, her commerce would
be swept from the ocean by our cruisers, and
revolutionary uprisings in Ireland and in Eng
land would probably bring the whole empire
to a rapid dissolution, and reconstruction Of
Its fragments into numerous kingdoms and re-
publics.
We know that the great bugbear of Mr..
Seward, all the way through, has been the
fear Of war with England or France, or both;
hence bis temporizing policy in regard to the
French-Mexican usurpation and these Anglo
rebel spoliations upon our commerce. But the
day for such temporizings has gone by. Mr..
Seward has filed his mission. The door has
been closed against him. He now stands In
the way Of the true policy Of the administra-
ton touching our foreign affairs. This Is the
difficulty which must first be removed in order
to take the first step Of new departure-the
prompt and positive demand for indemnity
from England. To this end, and in view
also Of his manifest policy henceforth on
Southern restoration, the first necessity Of
President Johnson is a new Cabinet, beginning
with o new Secretary Of State. Until this
essential forward step is made we must trust
to luck, and from England and France we must
take things a. they come.
why JeG Davis is Not Tried or Released.
The correspondence published yesterday in