The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-11

THE ALABAMA CLAIMS " IHE Dh14Ioh 1AA
11AMENT-IMpoRTANT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
OF coMMoNs-FRENDLY SETTLEMENT PRAc-
T1cAB1E-opT1oSs OF THE PRESS ON THE
DEBATE.
A cable dispatch to the New York papers
gives the following sketch Of the debate in the
House of Commons on the subject Of the Ala
bama claims:
LONDON. March I'm the House OF Com
mons last evening, Shaw Lefevre, the member
from Reading, called up the question OF the
Alabama claims. He made q long speech on
the subject, in which he urged the settlement
of this Texed question on the plan proposed Dy
tbe American government Alltuture negotia-
lions, he said, would but add to complications
already existing. BE sketched the progress OF
the recent civil war in the United States to Its
termination. He said the fall OF Fort Sumter
evoked the famous proclamation OF Mr. LIN
coin. In less than month after the appear,
ance Of that proclamation Great Britain had
recognized the Southern insurgents as bel
igerents. They had no fleet, but they pur-
chased their ships in our ports. THESE smps,
notwithstanding the vigorous measures OF our
government to stop them, eluded our Vgl-
lance, and went to sea and we're Hospitality re-
cAived at British colonial ports. They captured
hundred American merchant vessels. In less
than two years the United States was literally
driven from the seas, while the commerce OF
Great Britain was doubled. For this reason
the speaker thought We ought to treat these
claims. generously. They were first made IN
1862, BY the American Minister, MIR. Adams.
The arbitration Of the matter had been pro-
posed by the American government, but re-
fused by Lord John Russell, who repelled the
suggestion. But MIR. Stanley had insisted that
the responsibility Of England was only moral
one in the Alabama case. The speaker thought
the,less said about morality on this question
the better. He regarded the breaking out of a
war between England and the United States as
extremely unlikely, but thought, on the other
hand, that oil needless irritation should be
Stunned.
Lord Stanley then took the floor. He praised
the pacifc.orahon Of Mr: Lefevre, ana comph,
menfed Mr.. Adams for the conciliatory spirit
he had displayed in the subject under discus
sion. He said We could not make indiscrimi-
nate concessions, but we could learn the hight
of the case. There never was case Where
there was more need OF understanding the
points. Much allowance is to be made for the
feeling Of the United States. Great Britain, 10
the same case, with five hundred millions OF
debt contracted through civil war In which
million of lives had been lost, might appre-
ciate the matter better than merely lockers on
only, He thought England had been entirely
neutral; but no neutrality would have pleased
America. .,:
ty. coupled with warm sympathy and support.
The Queen was ready to arbitrate and submit
all questions but the great point OF recognizing
the beligerent rights Of the South. NOBODY
contends that at no time the South acquired
them, and, II not, why deny the right OF Great
The Confederate ship Alabama did not sail
from England until 1862, and the battle OF Bull
Run was fought in 1861. Admitting that it
was wrong for Great Britain to recognize the
South, would the United States Government |
say that its case against the Alabama had been
altered, had Great Britain made the declara-
ton Of neutrality six, rather than eleven
red to the speeches of Daniel Webster in the |
United States Senate, on the subject Of recog-
nizinR Hungary, in support of his argument.
How could England refuse to recognize war |
which Mr.. Seward himself had announced to
be civil war nine, twelve, or sixteen days be- |
that England had recognized civil war which |
the United States had admitted some weeks |
before? In conclusion, he thought friendly |
arrangement Of this difficulty was still pract- |
cable. He deprecated the debate. The friend |
" reception Of Minister Thornton at Washing |
ton was pledge Of peace. The ministers we're
ready to leave the question to the entire world.
W. Es
MIR. Stewards view Of the question Of the re-
cognition Of the Alabama claims deserved bet
ter treatment and more careful consideration,
as being perhaps the view that was right and
sensible. He complained Of the abrupt dispo-
sition Of the question which had been made
when the universal wish Of the United King.
dom was for its speedy settlement. nc thought
that If any impartial statesman had been Ben. ,
to the United States as minister, the point in
ftcnufn rniUht ha div odiuate6
John Stuart NIL, the member for Westmin-
ster, was the next speaker. he regarded the
present condition OF the question as the result
of mutual mistake. The real question was
whether England was bound to prevent such
expeditions as that Of the Alabama. He de-
MED that the United States Government
claimed or could claim that the recognition OF
the South wes violation Of law, but only that
it was an unfriendly, rash and unprecedented
act. The American Government only pressed
the point for the purpose OF showing that but
for the unfriendly action OF England, the Ala
bama depredations would not have occurred.
Mr.. Mill thought that an arbiter between the
ton was fairly due to the United States. He
concluded by advising the appointment OF q
mixed commission for the purpose OF the.ad-
iustment Of the question.
W. E. Gladstone, member from South Lam
cashire, thanked Mr.. Lefevre for his able
speech, aHQ LOrQ SIdIl6y 1UI ulb leuuptIdto
reply. He [Gladstone) could not understand
why the negotiation ended, nor could he agree
with Mr.. Mill that Lord Stanley had admitted
that reparation was due, or that an arbiter
would surely decide against England. For
himself he doubted if reparation for the Alaba-
ma depredations was due the United States.
It was unquestionably right that the point
should be referred to a commissions; but II the
government feared such reference, it should
settle the matter at once, or leave the decision
with On umpire.
Mr.. Gladstone inferred, however, from the
closing sentences Of Lord Stanley, that the
communications between the two governments
had not closed, and that friendly feelings be-
tween the United States and England would be
preserved He concluded by saying, if his in
ference was correct, the whole country would
support Lord Stanley in a just and honorable
settlement Of the case. The debate was closed
with MIR, Gladstone's remarks.
LONDON. March 7.-Nearly all the leading
newspapers have editorial articles this morn
ing on the subject of the remarkable debate IN
the House of Commons last evening on the
Alabama question.
The Times says that the debate must con-
vince the United States Government that Eng
land wishes to settle the law in this case IN the
American sense, and that the failure OF Great
British to refer the Alabama claims to arbitra-
hon is due to no desire to shnn her just obi
cations. Mr.. Seward has only to meet Lord
Stanley in q like spirit to end the misunder-
standing.
The tone Of tho journals is generally the
same.