Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-20
TREATY REJECTED.

lance, which, though no larger than mans
hand at present, may spread with threatening
might, and finally burst with terrible fury
The antiquated American Minister at the
Court of St. James, succeeded in patching
up a treaty with the British Minister of For
eign fairs, for damages done to American
interests during the war, by Semmes' vessel,
the Alabama. This treaty was under consid-
Grafton in the United States Senate on the
18th inst, when Sumner leyelled his batteries
against it. aud such seems to have been the
power of his logic, that when the vote was
taken, only one single Senator recorded his
name in favor of the treaty. Commenting
upon the reception of this treaty, the Balti-
more Gazette says:
The refusal of the Senate. by vote of
fifty. four to one, to sanction what is known
as the Alabama Claims Treaty, is a matter of
serious significance, aud marks the vast prog
ress which we have made iu the revolution
through which we passing. 1t shows
how startling is the change which the prn'
ciples and views OF political leaders have un.
dergone, and how rapidly the influence OF
public opinion upon the policy of the Gov
ernmeut has declined. 4 few years ago the
Federal Administration did not dream OF re-
ally insisting on such concessions as England
has been induced TO grant under the rejected
treaty. Those who held her at all RESPONSE
BILE for the damage done by the Alabama,
limited the demand to the value of the YES
sells actually destroyed by the Confederate
cruiser. Whether she was responsible under
the law of nations was conceded by most hon.
est men to be at least a debatable point
But now, when treaty has been negotiated
under the instructions of the Government
aud one with which every individual
would have been more than satisfied short
time ago, it is summarily rejected, and pre-
emptory claim for all manner OF extraordinary
and contingent losses to the business Of the
country during the war is substituted With
out regard to auy nDtccedent principle or fact,
Congress has deliberately placed itself in this
new and advanced position. Not only in this
particular has the dominant party moved far
beyond the ideas and purposes of few years
ago. Then it was considering how 1t should
re establish the relations between the North
and the seeded States. To-day it is leaving
| the people of the South to get along as they.
best may under the supervision OF the Presi>
| dent and his Major Generals, and is turning
its attention to the acquisition Of Canada and
| the w est 1DuleS. i ucu IL CueC'Cu " eI'"Sh
| great importance to constitutional issues,
while now its organs cOmplaccntly consider
the probabilities Of the erection Of all Amer
lean Empire.
What the result of the rejection of the
! Alabuma treaty is to be we in part con-
| lecture. 1t means the annexation OF Canada.
| The demand for the cesSion to this country OF
! oil the territory on this side of the Atlantic
held by European Powers, though not ofiicl.
ciaIly, has been explicitly enough made
England cannot, short of absolute de9rada>
! ton, now concede that she is answerabe for
the Claims brought forward by Mr.. Sumner.
! After the action Of the Senate it is clear that
this Governments will never again conse Mt to
! abate any of its prepUsterous pretenslons-
| There will be another diplomatic debate, and
! bv the time the Radical party is ready to 20
! through the form of another general election,
the annexation Of Canada will have been
made extremely popular, and the hest Gov
! eminent the world ever saw" will take the
| Dominion under its paternal protection.-
England, as the London Times very scnsibly
comedies, could not attempt to defend her
possessions. AS TO throwing an army across
the ocean which could hold its own against
the resources which we control, it would be
sheer impossibiity. England might seek to
uHcISe the NIOh@ ny " 'N'
against US, in which event it is by no means
! sure that she would be worsted. Nor is it
by no means certain that other European ma
tions which owe us no good will would not avail
themselves Of an opportunity which they regret
having lost some years back. and league to,
gether against this country. But there would
be war contracts and commissions to issue,
and that is all that many of our most patriotic
rulers care about We pretend to no gift of
prophecy. But seeing how pcremptoriIy this
| Government has destroyed every hope OF an
amicable adjustment of the Alabama question
with England, we think there. is but one in
depreciation to be given to the signs Of the
times"
CANDIDATE FOR CUNGREss-W. D. Wall
ZACH, Of Culpeper, former editor fthe Wash
ington Star, announces himself candidate