The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-20


In bis speech in the Commons Friday week.
Lord Stanley, after complimentbg Minister
Adams, said: Whatever else may be the matter
of the controversy, it is l hope, needless to make
any profession OF my anxiety to settle this dis
pufe, II possible. England has nothing TO gain
by keeping IL open, and something TO gain by
closing it. We have vast commercial relations
with the United States and long line Of continu
Gus frontier. We meet and cross one another on
every part of the globe. We have on both sides
an enormous load of debt, which neither wish TO
increase. tHesr, hear, and isugh) We can do
each other incaleulsble harm, and believe il is
equally the wish, as well as the interest Of both
nations, TO remain on amicable terms. (Cheers.)
need not, therefore, say that we want to arrange
this matter, II we can, nor do think in the pres.
ent state Of the question any difficulty arises from
the popular feeling in England. SO far from this
being the case, the reaction from our earlier feel
ings is so strong that we are almost too ready to
accuse ourselves Of faults which we have not
committed, and assume on every doubtful
point that the decision ought to be against
us. This is no doubt On error on right,
since an indiscriminate resistance to
reasonable demands and an indiscrimnate con
cession OF whatever We asked, are equally likely
to end in mischief. What We have to do is to try
and find sut what are the perfect rights OF the
case, TO state the ascertained, and to tenn
perately and fully endeavor to do justice to our
selves ct 10 appeal to n corresponding spirit In
those with whom we have TO treat. We eau dis
cuss this matter more calmly in 1868 than in 1864.
(Cheers The passions Of the nom mt pass away,
but facts and arguments REMAIN. Happily IS the
case low stands, the controversy still pending is
reduced within the narrowest possible limits. On
doubtful que1tions Of fact as TO which IL would
not be likely the two governments shoald agree
we are Of one mind 80 far as this, that we know
we cannot agree, and are ready TO refer to q third
and personally impartial party. The principle Of
arbitration has been accepted so far as we are
concerned, which l. an important step. The truth
Is, we have conceded everything asked for when
this dispute began. deer, hesr The sole point
unsettled between Us is this: 'fou are wiling"
the United States say t0 refer to arbitration the
question Of the Alabama and other vessels; are
you willing to include as a point for arbitration
whether you were right or wrong Ia recognizing
the confederation when you didg" The nswer
We have given in substance is: CAS- ct present
advised we cannot see what bearing the two things
have each other At eli for practical purposes as
bearing on the event Of 1862. You might as well
include the question whether we we're right or
rested on these: Firsl: That the United States
propose 10 Us q matter for consideration which Is
Irrelevant TO the issue. Secondly: That the irrel
evant question was one 10 be decided by con
sideraton OF the State policy, aud not Of the legal
obligation, and, therefore. IL Is incapable Of re-
ceiving alegal solution. Thirdly: That the United
States government, IN their parallel cases. had az
solutely refused to admit any responsibility for
adopting similar course, and that believe no
one would undertake 70 srbitrate a case so vague
and underlined.
l viii now proceed 10 argue the case on its
merits, as Jar as fecORnflon IL concerned, but 10
may be necessary to remind the House that, in
recognizing the Confedergtes when we did, we
were simply declaring. on May Is, state OF
things 10 be Q civil war, and which. IN Official
documents since published BY Mr.. Seward, on the
part of the United States government, has himself
declared TO be such. | should be sorry to say
anything that would even look like a want of re-
speet for the distinguished diplomatist by whom
this correspondence.hasb been conducted through
out, and than whom no man in the United States
has probably had greater experiences; but II the
question one which could discuss apagt
from poiinos, and We were uotthousands OF miles
apart and could meet face to face, / should vsE-
ture to ask him whether he could, with gravity,
call upon me solemnly 10 refer 70 the arbitration
Of neural body u some third party this ques-
ton shelter wei she British government, had a
right. on the Ism Of Nay. 10 declare tbst TO be
civil war. which ia various documents especially
one dated en- the 9Th Of May, be (dr. SeWard)
himself had chrisieued by that name. (Cheers.)
Let Il be noted also, that the highest court OF lie
United States. In q passage which has often been
quoted. declared the state of things which then
existed 10 be state Of war. and another argu.
nent, familiar 10 all who have pursued the sub
ject, is that If there was no war there was, OF
course, no blockade, and we might claim damages
for every blockade runner captured. (Hear,
hear.l
Claims such as these would amount ND to almost
an uncomfortable total. and really cannot think
that the statesmen Of the United STATES woIld be
willing TO letin these erroneous claims bat for the
sake Of inssiing upon point which practically
In its immediate application is unmportsnt. though
1 admit that Indirectly it may have considerable
influence. am glad to believe, nor can l think
there can be a doubt that as there has been a
greet change Of feeling here within the last two
Year,. so on the Other side Of the water CORES
pOHding change is taking place. (cheers.) nov
that the question is better understood. II the ne
gotauous have been for time suspended-I win
Lot say broken "a, but aus ended-the rupture
or suspension does not come from our side. Ac-
cofdiDg 20 ordinary ussge Il is now for the CON-
psinins party, II they do not Ike our plan Of an
Arrangement, 70 propose their own.
But then Il rs sid you ought 70 settle the mat
ter AZ once or you viii have quarrel. I am as
enxlous 10 settle as any man IN any part OF this
house can be. but do not believe ia the likelihood
OF the quarrel. faeer.) have never concealed
my Vpfniun thst rhe Amerirsnolaimants. or some
-of them ~ lest. nDder the references proposed fy
ne. we're very likely 10 make out their case, aud