The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-12-05
Ou,. Reyotious ,y;th E,aoIu,,d

Are assuming an ugly app arance The people
are becoming tired England course in reference
to the Alabama claims, and ere insisting that that
matter shall be brought to an early settlement.
Hon. Reverdy Johnson was recently sent to
England, as minister Plenipotentiary, and with
implicit instructions, it was understood, to de-
mand indemnity for the losses sustained by our
citizens from the cruiser Alabama, pirate vessel
sailing under the rebel hag. tut which was built,
furnished and equipped b, subjects of the British
crown. Mr.. Johnson's course in this matter, SO
far has not given salts u'iion to our citizens,
nor has il met the appros'l Of our government
authorities II WAS fir, :iven out that
Minister had consented 10 The reference Of the
whole subject to the Kin. Of Prussia, ruler
nearly connected with the Queen of England, but
it now appears that Commission, to be appointed
by the two governments, is to sit alternately in
Washington and London, and that the King o.
Prussia Is to be the arbitrator in all matters of
difference between the members Of the commission.
The people seem to think that their immediate
representatives, the appointed and sworn officers
Of the government, the proper ones to consider
this question, and that it should not be entrusted
to irresponsible and prsjudiced parties, particu-
lary when this commission is TO be selected by
the President, when, from his known sympathy
with the rebellion, he may select its members
from among the adherents of the "Lost cause, -
men who will not be likely to arbitrate against
the work Of the defender of their cause. But this
&c mi all ha 1af rahal
many men in the South who to keep from ia
| king any part in the contest, claimed for them
selves the title of British subjects and were there
fore exempt from military duty 1t was the for
tune of war that property claimed by these foreign
citizens was taken or destroyed, by both armies,
and now the English government has set up the
claim that the United States must make good all
the property so destroyed amounting in value to
$40, 900, 900. Our Minister, Mr. johnson, has
consented that all questions between the govern
ments shall be adjudcated by the proposed COM
mission, and it is easy TO see that our Alabama
claims would melt away before the claims set up
by England contended for by its members Of the
commission, and allowed by the referee the King
| vi IuSola. IL ID odiu tudt IcSlutul IL
astonished and Secretary Seward indignant at
this new aspect Of affairs, and that they have
promptly forwarded to England protest against
the proposed terms of settlement. This is the
present attitude of the question, and meantime
our people are growing very FESTIVE at the delay
in bringing the British Government to account
We all remember the nsoleuce Of England when
we were at war with the South and how it was
said, on every hand that as soon as our trouble
with the rebels was over, attention should be
given to our enemies over the sea. Four years,
nearly, have the people been patiently waiting
and now, when plan for settlement has taker
practical shape, its terms are such as will mee
the condemnation of almost every loyal either
of the land They ask its rejection by the govern
ment, and the substitution of such demand fo
restitution by England for the damage done ou
commerce by the Alabama as will bring the mat
ter to crisis. A few weeks more will determine
the question, and if England refuses to adop
any other than the plan agreed upon by Reverdy
johnson, it is not improbable that serious trouble
may ensue between the two nations. We trus
that, whatever may the consequences, the posi-
ton already assumed by our government in th
matter may be rigidly adhered to.