New-York tribune., 1869-06-02
FOREIGN NEWS BY MAIL.
. GREAT BRITAIN.
MR.. FORSTER ON ENGLAND AND AmEhlCA'


pestons ON which he promised effective and searching
measures next year the last place he turned to the
Alabama claims Mr. Forster said Now let it be clearly
tnS Yon am not Cabinet Minister and with regard to
this question did not consult any OF my colleagues and
cent myself You know desrous was friendship
with the United States (Hear, hear) You know how
have struggled for IT, and yOu know this because you
have helped me In those struggles at the time when there
was danger peace between England and America from
what might have been done IN England shall always be
grateful for that help; you helped me with power ana
with vgor and with earnestness 70 do what In me lay 70
Temove danger that England should not be resPon
sble for any disagreement with our knsmen IN America
danger in America. do not wish TO exaggerate tnat
danGer-I believe 1t Is exaggerated already; but there
almost desire that you were all Americans Hear hear
wish. instead Of talking TO my Bradford constituents,
friends in Imerca-I wish were talking to them and,
perhaps some few words that say tonight may reach
soine OF them. hear hear and they may feel that am
talking, not, as say as member OF the BRUSH SoeSr %
when he has taken part in politics has been to have
lasting and faithful friendship between this country and
alude TO this subject this evening on account OF
speech which excited good deal Of attention, made
ifIeaT. hear He has taken ground which greatly
deplore We in England had persuaded our Government
with regard TO the injury inflicted by the Alabama and
TO do this, but we did persuade them II was only
right that we should do IT.; 1t would have been most
long ago. Hear Mr. Sumner, in his speech appears to
reject this proposal OF arbitration and 10 demand instead
i
-and some untold Of money besides. Why docs he
make this demandi Chiefly upon two grounds, on both
lie first says he demands because the proclamation OF
neutrality that was issued In the queens name az the
IuTe and hostile TO the United States; and
because, secondly, having proclaimed neutrality,
sword into the struggle Well. now, am not here as an
apOlOgsI for all that our or h9t mas
earnest in deprecatng much that was done, But 90
say that both these respects venture 70 think that
Hr
NATION, that appears TO be the great cause OF onese
Influential and excellent Americans at this time.
want you to look back to what the position Of En-
beard the news Of the South having re6esd against the
North and the whole Of the South was IN possession OF
these rebes What was England to do Why, II was her
duty TO declare that however much she might lament
that war she would have nothing to 90 win aiding
either side 1t was the proclamation OF our determn-
et!on TO have nothing to DO with AIDING eI'HeG ng
suo tnaS o r r:ciritsf nre0atiTe upcalled for and
hostile Well. believe it was necessary. II may have
been issued. Ny excellent aud my dear friend Mr.
Adams had only just arrived, aud perhaps II would have
been better TO have let him get thoroughly at home IN
he Embassy house in London before was issued But
that Is mere matter OF etiquette ana cannot suppose
reason for disagreement between two great pauOnS
That 10 would have been necessary within few days
am perfecy sure just consider what the state Of
things There this great war raging between THESE
were In rebellion against the Union; there vast
number OF Americans-SOuthern AnerSaps-ln the
Southern states and in England trying al they could
using every possible eXerton toby some means or other
drag into war II was our business to prevent them
doing possible How could that be d0nei Simply ana
solely the Queen issuing her orders that we should take
no part the struggle III sad II was hose ao6 well
don't think any oDe-l am quite sure mr. sumner Won't
and don't believe American will-eharge me with
have onged for in the course OF my life that the
North representing the principle OF freedom, should
Slavery lChecrs hope IL is not an unpatrotic thing
20 say that could hardly conceive OF any struggle IN
NybIch my own country would be engaged in which
should feel earnestly than did feel in that strug
gle In which our kihsineh-"non iOoh ulVn on ~ LooI
against Slavery l Hear. hear" and applause Well, hay
thar feeling as strongly as man couid-Imay have been
xTong but must saw having that feeling-beng most
anxious the interests OF the North 10 save the
did an could to obtain it, In fact, 1t so happens as
Stated last year in the House Of Commons that that mo
nent had only lust returned by and although
was then an uniufuential member felt it my duty
possibly because was more alive TO the quesoa Ihaa
other members as had watchedit Defoe-to Pnt myself
Forward more than otherwise could nave Ielt had
right TO do IN putting questions 10 MStes @ on ne sq
Sect and bringing before then AnI Ine Ita 4dCt 10
That the first statement that there should he pr0cag
GH & sSpee Spee l ES the then Home Secretary WHY was
II I asked that question Why was | anxious Tor that
OF the South had sent 10 England letters OF marque
and afraid that unless there were orders issued pre-
venting IT. pFiyatees with letters OF maTque would san
from our ports without delay Hear hearl " Wen
but then" Mr. Sumner would say III was your business
40 have declared these men pirates ana TO nave taken
them up THAT my first feeling and remem
1 Very Neil as Wen as lit had been yesterday, consider
Commons and ask that they should be treated as pirates
But felt that this would be strong measure TO ake ana
that should be sure of my ground before making the
application and remember very well going to the best
Admiralty authorities that could consult and nor being
content with that searching through the library O the
House Of Commons, and looking over the opinions OF
writer's on international law one AFTER anotheL anu
especially looking the writings OF the great herha
t6ual lawyer, Wheaton, saw clearly, according 10 the
principles Of International law now acKnoWIeGgeu DS
civilized Governments and especially aoV0eateo } anu
enuucatCd by United States that when there was
war OF nsuTreCtiOn between rebels ana Government
Guy neutral country was bound 70 consider that 10 e
SoTty Ss pirates. and that 1t could not treat its
own subjects who might ala either party, as
pirates although it bound TO do all 1t
could to prevent those subjects from AIDING mem liier
j must slate if he will allow me to say so, and would
moi made at that timels This, Oh there by
Iaud We do not deny It" hear, hear thlhk IL
would be dfcut FOR them 10 deny it, considering the
immense amount Of courage, o resources and OF patriot
ism they have been obliged 70 show 10 conquer IN that
war There was war by land ne sna' D9, dnGiE Was
ISra'S ti 1 NycII I'M really that rs not the case
or c 5c y5 i9 Iys DO not seem to Remember that the
fr rst vessels that came out with the flag Of the South
10 prey on Northern commerce came out OI southern
pof aud thai they came ont year before any vessel
was built in Elglaud And believe that one OF them
al any rate, vcssewaS adludged Dy tue NOIUh Vt "
be a pirate hut 10 be belligerent Hear hearl
Tut pntting hat out OF consideration there war
upon water else what was the meaning OF DoChidel
iiIcar Learl 1Le blockade was act OF war-sealing
ihe seaports was an act OF Mr. sumner says DO
consider the word DlOckade; We lShl nave C-ueSu
me norris Instead" But really this Is playing with words
trade with the sUuth-a trade which was the life ana
bread Of lalec portion oi our POPqahSo i6e
Northby the act Of the NOrtlthe f0rcDle act OF he
NOrth ana Gay II IS vain ana loosh hOv 70 "Hw 'tSo %
frst speech made the House OF Commons was IN thc
t oto, On of what actually did exis-the rec5gni
ton OF war, and the recognition Of beugeTency, which
1Ts faetbu. 10 prevent the recognition Of what was
not q fact and has not become fact thankful TO
eay-the independence OF the soulh. Ihear hear.l
%6at was iy greatest argument in speahlg
a.aers, tIo rccoguitionf Why, that this block