The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-13
Our War Claims Against England.

The position which our government has as
sumed with reference to the claims against the
government of England, arising out Of the ac-
tion Of that country in connection with the
rebel privateers Alabama and Shenandoah, was
fully explained in the lengthy correspondence
between Mr.. Adams and Lord Clarendon pub
lished in our columns yesterday. While we can
not but admire the firm and explicit terms ia
which our Minister at Lhe Court Of her Britannia
Majesty has defined che whole subject, we arc
astoaished at the puerile and offensive manner
In which the question has been treated By Lord
Clarendon. The representative Of the now
British Ministry in the Foreign Office has not
attempted to treat the subject in any other
light than that in which it was viewed by his
predecessor, Earl Rus8cll. He presents no
now facts and adduccs no new arguments.
His correspondence can only be regarded as
repetition Of the feeble logic Of Eart Eusseii,
upon whose authority he seems to rely as an ex
cathefro declaration Of the policy ~ her Ma
jesty's governmeu, upon question which this
country justly considers Of grave moment in
The settlement Of vital International principles.
ss we'll as Of serious importance In the light OF
her own dignity Is eresi Power.
|, Mr.. Adams has made out his ease clearly
against she British government Not quih.
bic nor shufle in the whole Russell Claren-
don correspondence can stand against the
solid facts aud manly logic Of our Minister.
Conscious, therefore, Of this fact, and evident
~ overlooking the danger 10 which England
ho a - L.
claims, Lord Clarendon brings the controversy
10 an end by the cool assumption that all the
topics are exhausted, and with what may i'm
ply threat that the further continuance Of the
argument might lead 10 unfricndly relations
between the two countries. What the future
relationship may be between tho governments
OF the United States and England Is TO be de-
cided by The people and government Of the
United States, in The event OF her Majesty's
Ministers persisting in refusal Of our de-
mands While we do not court q war with any
Power, IL must be understood that this country
is 10 a position 10 maintain oil her claims 10
full and perfect justice. ll
There are certain public questions upon
which the American people are unit. One
Of them is the necessity Of Macmillan with
drawing from Mexico, and another the full
naturalization for the losses 10 our commerce
on the high seas for which the government OF
ENGLAND can he held responsible. II is well
that foreign statesmen should explicitly under
stand this; aud IL Lord Clarendon IL not
already aware OF Il we now recommend the
fact TO his especial notice.
In closing his correspondence the British
Foreign Secretary descend. 10 diplomatic
falsehood when be says that during the late
civil war no armed vessel departed from .
British port 10 cruise against the commerce OF
the United States. II Is notorious that the
two pirates concerning which this contro-
versy has arisen were fitted ont for the pur-
pose, and with all the sccommod atious OF
armed vessels, although the actual armament
may have been taken on board after they left
British waters Moreover, they were manned
for the most part by British subjects, and were
sheltered during their msrauding career in
British ports. However, all these points have
been so ably established by Mr.. Adams ss TO
compel the Foreign Secretary 10 shelter him
self under bubble which is very like an uu.
truth.
II may possibly be inferred from the whole
tenor Of Lord Clarendon's correspondence that,
rs he has heretofore been amicabIy disposed
toward this country, he does no, wish to
prolong q controversy which may lead TO a
breach Of friendship, and prefers to back out
OF II, leaving the case TO stand a. his prede.
cessor transferred IL 10 him. Whether this IL
true or not, however, has nothing TO do with
the adjustment Of our claims. This govern
ment cannot receds from its position in the
matter Of the rebel privateen
BuRoLARns on THE IScREAsr. criminal
record IL daily rcplete with accounts Of burg
lsriss committed both in the CITY proper and
In NE nsishborhood. Williamsburg appears
70 Be particularly unfortunate In this respsot