The New York herald., 1868-03-13
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Lord Stanley's speech I'm Reply
10 Mr.. Lefeyre.
Cficial Defence Of Bngland's Policy
in the American War.
BY THE ATLANTIC cABi e.

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The following is Lord Staney's speech. delivered
in the English House Of Commons on FIR iday even
ing last, on the Alabama claims questi Jn as pre-
sented by Mr.. Shaw Lefevre:-
Lord Stanley said:-I think it due to the honorable
member who has brought this subje It forward and
VINO has dealt with it in SO clear nd condensed a
manner to acknowledge that he has said nothing
which is calculated to increase ny feeling OF inter-
national irritation that may still emain, or to arara
vate the complications which have unfortunately
arisen In one portion Of his remarks l cannot Mt
all events help expressing my cordial concurrence in
The tribute which he has pat to the high character
and accomplishments of the United States Minister
whose services, unfortunate y we are about to lose
tCheers.) Few men could ave had a more diGlcut
part to perform and fewer still could have displayed
ia all that has been &c ne q sounder judgment or
greater forbearance. 10 neersl 1t is not my wish to
follow the honorable ~ ntleman into that part of his
speech which related the conduct of Lord Russell.
Lord Russell had lany difficulties to encounter,
and he has many friends and representatives
in this house VII will be prepared to vim
slcate anything hat may be said In criticism
el the steps taken by him. My business
il rather with the present aspect Of the controversy
than the past. certainly regretted that the honor
able member sf )ud, in one respect have displayed
slight tnge o partsanship, which, to do him JUS
nce, he genera lily succeeded in avoiding The hon.
orahc genter ian appeared to regard it extraor-
dinaiy that v should have consented to refer this
question TO arbitration, and seems to think that,
owing 10 So me changes in opinions, our conduct
had altered. do not want to revive old points of
controversy, but it would be very difficult to point
cut one sngle word in any speech made by my right
honorable friend, the First Lord OF the Treasury,
by myself which could show that we had prejudiced
the issue. Whatever else may be the matter OF the
controversy il is hope needless to make any pro-
fesson OF my anxiety to settle this dispute pos
sipie England has nothing to gain by keeping it
open, and something to gain by closing it. We have
vast commercial relations with the United States;
long line Of continuous frontier. We meet and cross
one another in every quarter OF the globe we have
on both sides an enormous load of debt, which
neither wish to increase ('Hear, hearr and a
angh) We can do each other incalcuable harm,
and believe II is equally the wish as well as the
interest OF both nations to remain amicable terms.
tCheers.) need not therefore say that we want to
arrange this matter il we can; nor do think in the
present state Of the question any difficulty arises
fom popular feeling in England. SO far from that
being the case the reaction from our earlier feelings
Is SO strong that we are almost too ready TO accuse
ourselves OF faults which we have not committed and
10 assume in every doubtful point that the decision
ought TO be against u.s. This is no doubt, error
the right side; but indscrminate resistance reason
able demands and ndiscriminate concession OF what
ever Is asked are equally likely to end in mischief.
What we have TO do is TO Try and nnd out what
The strict rights Of the case, to state the case so
ascertaned and 30 temperately and fully endeavor
10 do justice to ourselves and TO appeal to CORE
spending spirit in those with whom have to treat.
Now, sir, there never a In which it was
desirable TO define accurately the points to be
settled because on the other side there are
grievances OF rather vague character-grievances
which do not say unreal unfounded but
which those who feel them would find It hard to de-
IRE. do not complain OF this, but merely refer to
it as fact If we were Northern Americans we
should probably entertain pretty much the same feel
Ing. Men who have emerged from civil war; in
which they sacrificed million OF lives and incurred
five hundred million pounds sterling OF debt not
for little time in position to appreciate with
perfect GOODNESS the conduct Of lockers on. Cheers
am not now saying whether our course was in
every instance one OF rigid neutrality; that is the
very point we are endeavorng TO ascertain by arbi-
trailon; but II onr neutrality mad been the most ab-
sout IL is possible 10 conceive there be doubt
that We should have fallen short OF the expectations
Of the people OF the United states. What they ex-
Pected was not neutrality pure ana simple, but
physical neutrality, coupled with sympathy and
moral support Cheers, When sucha feeling exists
and Is disappointed IL is obvious that the disappont
ment 80 produced will find vent In some
shape, and that is the key to a great deal
OF the exaggerated writing and speaking which
has been observable in the earlier stages OF
the question. and ia that point OF view do not re-
gfet tie time that has passed both sides. We
can discuss this matter more calmly In 1868 than In
1864. tCheerHl Passions Of the moment pass away,
buf facts ana arguments remain and happily as the
case stands. the controversy stiIl pending is
reduced within the n3rrowest possible limits. on
doubtful questions Of fact, rs 10 which II would not
he likely that the two governments should agree
we are Of one mind as ,r as this, that we know we
cannot agree and are ready TO refer To a third aud
personally impartial party. The principle OF arbi-
traiOn has been accepted, as far as we are con-
cerned, which Is an important step. am not ind
ing fault because that step was not taken earlier.
Time. We know, makes many things possible which
were not 50 ~ first. The truth Is we have conceded
everything asked for when the dispute began. clear,
hear.l Al that time the question OF premature re-
coenliion of bellceient rights had not assumed Its
bui tiat was all But by curious process that
grievance whatever its value may be, has
been gaining importance In The minds of American
public men Just in proportion as We are willing TO
remove other causes OF complaint. clear, hear)
The sole point unsettled between us Is this:-"You
wilng' the United states say TO refer 10 arhi
tratiOn the question Of the Alabama and other kin
dred vessels: you willing TO include, point in
the reference, the question whether YOU were right
wrong in recommending the confederation when
you didr' The answer We have given, in substance
Il, That a. at present advised we cannot see what
bearing the Two things have on each other; for all
prsccae purposes, as bearing on the event OF 1902,
you might a. Well include the question whether we
were right wrong Ia the of 1912. There are
sor'le persons who do not accept that view OF the
casc win, therefore, endeayor to enforce II.
supp uSe tai DO human being viii contend that at no
period during that prolonged struggle of four years
the c. Ccntederaies had become entitled to belliperent
rights. or that such prcteDslon has ever been put
forward; but II they were bellgerens at time.
and noe when recognized such, when did they
become sof Tak. a date that win test the qucs
lion. Jf they belliqerents. | suppose
they were after the celebrated battle Of Bull Rum
They had Il large force In the field. For time
nj least the had achieved a military superiority,
and, above a u, Washington was threatened. sup
pose we had recognized them after that BATTLE
would any huI nan bainq have found fault with uss
Could any one have charged MS with being prccpi-
sate In our reco ,nonY And had we done that how
would il have an ected the Alabama question: The
Alabama escaped In April 1852; Bull Run was fought
In july 1861 If had chosen to take that line OF
argument in my 4, espatch II would nave been com.
pefent for me 10 co lfend In this way. grant that
we were wrong In r. cogDiziDg the confederacy when
we did We ought 10 have done 1t In August, and
not in NAV. We we, six months too soon. But
having admitted that viii you, the American gov
rrnment, tell me how our case. as regards the ala-
bama, would be In any way affected II we had done
what Won contended we ought, end made the rccog-
49,! - .o..a,i.u ,,s,. - iucelvn rinnihs hefnre