The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-11
A TALK WITH REHERDY JOHNSON
His Views ON the Rejection Of the Ala.
bama Treaty-Efect OF AIr. Summers
speech ON the English Ministry and
People.

A correspondent of the New York Times
gives an account Of proiessed interview with
the hon. 'Reverdy johnson, late United States
Minister to England, at his country residence,
near Baltimore. a few days ago. Aportion of
the conversation between Mr., johnson and the
correspondent is thus related by the latter:
"How is Mr. sumnerp" then said Mr.. john
son. = "Mr. Summer is in Wash.
ington,"I replied, land teels extremely well
satisfied with his speech" e-.-
"Well," replied Mr.. johnson, 81 do not know
that any one else ls satisfied With it,. Itell
Won that that spe ech Of sumner has made
England unit against the United States. Our
friends there have fallen off by troops. AT
first the people declared for war, but now
think they have got over that idea and ere
satisfied that our intentions are pacific. The
speech having been approved by tho Senate,
the English people at first thought it was
declaration OF war, and we're prepared to accept
their minds, and now they have justly arrived
at the conclusion that Sumner is, after al. but
one American citiZen, and does not represent
the views Of the administration"
For q few minutes Mir. johnson here re-
lapssd into silence, and then broke out again:
what they say Of it in England? Clarendon
says that it is absurd and preposterous; that
it is not the speech Of either q lawyer or Q
statesman; that It., PROPOSITIONS are wholly.l
admissible" 'eWhy," said MIR. johnson, "this
same MIR. Sumner wrote to MIR. Bright on the
18th or Goth Of last Ja uary that the protocol
which sent here would have been almost
unanimously approved If it had been received
three weeks sooner. The factis, the incoming
President did not want the question settled
during the administration OF Andrew Johnson,
and the Republican party did not want 1t
settled by me. They dld not want the eclot OF
having the most difficult question, short OF the
question Of actual separation, that has arisen
between the two countries, settled by Demo.
cratic administration"
"Why don't the English pagers publish MIR.
Summers speech?"
sWhy, because it Is too nonsensical. Clar-
endon says that the United States, as gov
ernment, have no claims against England as
government. The United States have private
Individual claims against England, and Eng
land has private individual claim, against the
United States. These the English people and
government are willing to submit to an arbl-
tration. Clarendon stys that England might
as we'll say that she would reject the treaty be-
cause the holders Of Irish republican bonds
might come in under it's terms. The Amerl-
cans whom have met abroad denounce MIR.
Sumner rs much as the Engllsh people 90. L.
is foo:ish speech"
. MIR. johnson was very indignant on this cub
i ject. He could not tolerate the idea OF attach
ing any importance or slgnfcance whatever 10
the ideas Of the Massachusetts sena or. he
started up from his seat. and walking no and
down the ROOM nervously and RAPIDLY said:
"Phe English Government will never accede
to the Sumner demands. Clarendon won't
yield one iLch from his position. They have
taken it, and capnot be shaken in their resolve.
They are very proud people. apoweIful peo-
ple and cannot be frightened"
"What do you think of war between Eng
land and the United States Mr.. Johnson? What
would be the result Of it 2"
"The result would be unfavorab!e to US. In
the first place, our debts ore equal. But there
will not be and cannot be war so long as there
is any common sense left to the two peoples.
But, to talk about it for arguments sake: Eng
land WIS never better prepared for / war than
she is now, and the United States is less able
to enter on contest Of the kind than she was
during the rebslliop. Do you remember Ad-
miral Porters letter on the suoject2 BE is OF
my opinion, or, rather. am OF his, that We
cannot fight England. Yes, they would give Us
Canada, provided the Canadian people were
willing 10 be exchanged; but I do not think
they are, and sooner than part with that pro-
vince on forcible terms. England would lose
hoy I, or man and her last chilling "