The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-04-20
SENATOR SUMNER ON OUR ALABAMA
CLAIMS.

The great document on the subject of our claims
upon Great Britain is the speech delivered in the Sen
ate, on the 18th, by Senator Sumner against the rat
ifcation of the Johnson Clarendon treaty. a
1t is shown that the treaty has trifled away our
rights. 1t proposes to submit the ella inns of Ameri-
can citizens to joint commission that is to choose
arbitrator, and in they cannot agree an arb-
traitor is to be chosen by tlot. Mr.. Sumner justly
charges this lottery commission as a painful levity
in reference to the most solemn questions that
rose between nations. -
He shows also that it was believed the British hold
ers OF Confederate bonds would have their claims
cognized by the Commits as an offset to our claims
and so soon the treaty signed those bonds
rose from 0@ 10 per cent ! Mr.. Sumner Justly con.
cudes that the loyal people of this country in
favor of treaty under which money advanced to aid
the rebellion by English capitalists shall be paid by
the United States.
Mr.. Sumner then clearly establishes our right to
acknowledgment By Great Britain of the wrong OF
recognizing the Confederacy as beligerent on the
high seas, and also our right to pecuniary damages
to at least 500 000 000 According international
law there may be belligerency the land and
the sea. H Es11
A land belligerent must get Zoo thold on the sea,
have port of his own, ships of his own and be pre-
pared for warfare before being entitled to recog-
neutral ports. The rebels had not port, not ship,
not gun, not man the at the time England
recognized themnor indeed until English capitalists
fitted them out with the Alabama. This made that
ship, to all intents and purposes either an English
man-of war pirate. The British Government
was duly advised of the destination of the Alabama,
and yet suffered five days to elapse before sending an
order to stop her. 1t was just too Late She sailed
for Scotch port, followed by an English cruiser
from which she supplied with men and NUM-
tons, and where she lay thirty six hours. She was
attended throughout her by English cruisers
and at last, when she went down under the guns of
the Kearsarge, British ship, like good angel, was
lowering to snatch the rebel pirate from a wa
terry grave. fHs
England made ost indecent haste in recognizing
the Southern Confederacy. Her proclamation that
effect was made within one month, to day, of the
firing Fort Sumpter, and also the day before the
arrival of our Minister who, they knew. would ar
rive within day two!
Mr.. Sumner proves England to have been outra-
geousy wrong in this recognition snd therefore is
responsible for all the consequences. She must ao-
knowledge that wrong. She must also pay the dam
ages. Ssh H.
The Senator shows the damage to our shipping
alone to have been $1,000 0OO besides the loss of
what we might have made in commerce had it not
been for the Anglo rebel pirates. Our shipping has
been nearly all transferred to English capitalists
the capitalists that furnished pecuniary aid and svn-
pathy TO the rebellion.
Mr.. Summer holds that England must paw us at
least 100000 beside making the proper acknow
edgment. To this the response of the people is amen
and it is expected that President Grant will push i.
to fnal issue. Our demand must be made W it'll the
alternative of war settlement. We have been put
off by diplomatic arts for four years one year more
should sac the whole matter settled according to our
own understanding Of our rights. The demand of
Mr.. Sumner is the least that Great Britain should ex
pect and there is necessity for further diplomacy
the subject except to draft sign treaty 10 that
effect. ssf ess. za