The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-31
SENATOR GRIMES.

The cold Man's'' Soothing Letter to the Eng
lish People OH the Alabama Claims.
This is the letter which Senator Grimes sent to
England and which has evoked such sharp COM
ments from American journals
TO the Editor of the London TimeS.-Sir:-Wi you
permit an American who has read all the articles
published in your columns within the last two weeks
on American affairs, and who thinks he has tolera-
bly, correct Judgment of the public sentiment of his
country, to assure you
l. That there never has been time within the last
fifty years when there was in the United States less
of disposition to go to war with any country, least
OF all with Great Britain than there is at the present
moment
2. That the Senate Of the United States by their
vote on what is called 'the Alabama Treaty simply
agreed to the conclusion at which Mr.. Sumner ar
rived in his speech in the executive session of that
body and not to the processes by which he reached
that conclusion or the arguments by which he sup
3. That Mr. Sumner delivered an elaborate speech
on this subject, which he had been for weeks pre-
pairing, and from which he desired the injunction of
secrecy to be removed, a request that is always
granted by the Senate. All other remarks made on
the occasion were informal and conversational, and
the speakers neither felt nor expressed any similar
desire for publicity
4. That there were various causes not generally
known, and which il is needless to aude to, that
conspred TO secure the rejection of the treaty. not
the least of which were the unWise declarations of
members OF the British Legation in Washington
which, coupled with the manner of constituting the
Commission, as agreed upon in the treaty, gave an
appearance at least Of probable unfaiIness in the
| B. That Englands onense in the eyes of Americans
is not that she conceded belligerent rights to the
Confederacy at time when the southern States had
apparently established themselves as an Independent
power" or that she recognized their beligereut
rights at any tme nor that we did not enjoy the fun
sympathy OF her citizens during the Rebellion, Their
real grievance is that the Alabama, built and fitted
= QQt ln ar English port never ran into Confederate
Port so as to acquire the legal character OF Con-
federate belligerent technically or otherwise; that
| she in truth an English vessel, sailing from a
| British port under the British nag, manned by
| British sailors, was everywhere cordially received,
supplied, and coaled at british stations while such
| hospitality denied to American cruisers; that
she never had any other home than the port of Lv-
erpOOl, from which she or ginay departed, and re-
| manned, in law and conscience a British vessel
until she sank beneath the waves This is our grev-
ance. All else is the establishment of the advocate
| and orator.
g. That while it is not TO be denied that there is
desire in the Northwestern States of the Union To
see the British provinces added to their Government
for the purpose OF securing control of the navigation
of the ST. Lawrence river, which drains large por-
ton of their territory II Is also true that many OF the
Atlantic States opposed 10 their acquisition, be-
cause they fear that II acquired the West will have
| uninterrupted water communication with Europe
without passing through and being tributary to them
| The Intelligent people Of the West are patiently
bidinQ their time in the fun faith that when the
British Government concludes as II sooner or later
will conclude, that the provinces are an element OF
extensive weakness TO IT, and that 1t will no longer
support them they will be quite as anxious 10 join
the United States as their public men, VINO almost
exclusively enjoy the bounty bestowed ny ths hoInt