New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-23
THE ALABAMA CL1IMS.

Convention" has caused much anxiety to good men in
ths country They fear that 1t implies settled policy
20 keep open controversy with England and perhaps
some future day to the way for rupture. Permit
me- as who knows America and values its friendship
TO address few words to you the line OF argument
you have taken this disputed question. embOld.
ened to do so the closing portion your speech
teshes to a desire for peace and amity with England
aud because cannot think that man OF your vast DO
Ncal experience aud of purpose can wfuly
widen the breach that already exists between the two ma
tons.
will not attempt TO go into nice disquisltion on IN
terBatonal law; enough has already been written on
shat and the public mind in both countries been
confused than enlightened by the wearsome sub
tetes Of lawyers What wish TO do is to to convey to
you briefly what is the practical view Of the subject
taken here by upright who anxious to act Justly
and would willingly make any reasonable concession to
America than to have ranking disturbing
the harmony between the two countries.
viii begin by promising that the vast majority Of the
people Of Great Britain have earnest desire TO main
tain friendship with the United States they have not
the remOest wish to nure insult your country in any
way; they have of that anmosity which, alas so
often finds expression American press but they
have a Of bewidered feeling at the reluctance OF
your people to meet them halfway in their amicabe
tments they baed in their attempt comprehend
why it is that Americans show such soreness against
their old mother country for they feel that they have not
acted so as 20 deserve this feeling.
With respect to what are called the Alabama depre
daoRs" there is little difference OF opinion in this
cry among Intelligent men; they viewed with regret
and reprobaOn and beg to you that IL never
was the general sentiment Of this country to these
acts with cOmplacency. All through your civil Their
large party who condemned the fitting ont Of or
federae cruisers in this country, and had internat
law been sufficiently clear the subject most cerfAinS
these acts would not have occurred; but rghn! VI
wrongly, Government conceived that they we're PRIV
eiuded by the provisions of international law nom active
Interference; the case was far more complicated hau
people your side willing to admit, and our do'er
men with every desire to do right, found II hteraiy I'M
possible to avoid giving oense to your people WIN INC
light shed upon the subject, It is certain that our
Government would be prompt IN dealing win any
future cases but when your civil war broke out there
greatest Obscury in the public MIND about Ihe
legal aspect questions and it only by pan1m
experience that found out both what due to other
nations and what powers our own Governments nhsH'
rightsuly exercise British subjects.
1t is now very generally admitted however That the
Americans have real grievance against us as respects
the Alabama other Confederate cruisers and the ma
jcrty OF our people would readily consent to pay any
fair compensation for actual damage done TO your rade
such damage could be assessed by fair arbitramen we
do grudge the money! we wish to remove grievance
and restore amity; and many of those among us
who fail 10 see that Government committed any
breach OF international law quite ready to pay biz
of damages If sueh shall be awarded against u.s.
But We feel that question too complicated 10 DC
decided er pare We wish IL submitted to competent
tribunal where all collateral considerations may DC ay
and eouitably weighed Such a tribunal was provided
by the convention entered into with Reyerdy Johnson ana
IL has caused as surprise grief In this country
that the convention negotiated by your special envoy
sent over to England should have been summary ana
SO contemptuously discarded
Our Government made as we thought and stu thlhA'
large concessions and we left every fairly deDateaoe
point to arbitration We took our chance OF being
p,ulcted in heavy sum, and we did not expect Kin
dred and Christian people would so fatty reject the only
rational way in which nations ayerse to war can honor
ably settle their disputes
But II seems from your speech that 1t is no longer the
Alabama question: but recognition o. the Dehgef
ent rights Of the South that constitutes the gravamen oil
your complaint against England You charge US win
having immensely prolonged the war and doubled the
cost Of subduing the South and that ground you set
down TO our debit the larger half Of your national debt
and Won sneak as though settlement should be made
with us unless some SoOOOOOOO OF your aeOt
with conrte apology besides for our wicked assistance
TO the Rebels!
sncb charges and such claims I'll with amazementl
Up TIL quite lately not even understood IN TINS
eoupty that our proclamation of neutrality was believed
10 be a wrong by the American people No doubt hr.
Seward often complained Of II in his dispatches put thls
was thought TO be the result Of some mental ODquy
peculiar TO himself, and not TO reflect the unbiased
opnIon OF the great American nation. We did not thlk
n posbe that your people could be serious in Directing
10 our doing what seemed to us 10 be as unavoidable as
was Just to all concerned state this fact in order to
bring out bold relief the extraordinary dnerehce OF
opinion that prevails on the two sides Of the Atlantic
and to ineucae the importance OF looking at these SUD
ects from both points Of view. repeat that during the
progress Of your civil and for years aferWard
1t did not even the British public that our Gov
ernmeDt could have done otherwise than recognize that
state of war existed in your country and that British
subjects must be put under the usual neutral obligations
No DOUBT some Of did think that the Queens procla
nation mi ght have Issued with greater proplety
after the arrival Of your ambassador Some OF us did
think that undue preciptance about he meas
ure the warmest friends OF the North felt mat
the step had to be taken later, and never
dreamt that your country would make 1t a grievance
against US that we recognized state Of war at all
snrelv Won forget the circumstances in which England
was placed when your civil broke out. She had an
immense maritime commerce with both sections OF your
country more especially with tho Southern half and 1t
was necessary that our Government should warn ship
owners Of the risk they ran in trading with eockaded
ports Had IL not warned them thdI slaIo u ,
fated and imposed neutral obligations upon theln ~
would have involved at once IN endless coHpcaIeu
claims against your Government .,.-, .
here-and l may add, throughout Europe-that yon
should mpnte to a crime that which your Govern
Proclamation Of blockade all the world knows was
tssued before declaration OF neutrality. FROM the
civil war; from the very first 1t conceded begercnt
rights the South aud surely @e are not cIinss LOT
We were not TO regard the COnfederates as Dandlt ana
uirates when your Government never oieaht OF
doing so aud yet this Is what you appear 10 thihA VIC
You seem TO forget that when this unhappy war broke
out 1t was the general opinion OF JURORS S to and ts
was apart from all predictions for either slde ~ wac
SIMPLY founded on thc iact that y o fro, fn
containing oHc-thrd OF the Popatloh seeeueu OIu lo
Tnon and European nations doubted either your power
or Willingness sulJugate that portion by force OF arms
They scarcely thought 10 was consistent win your lo
~ oyerumcut TO attempt it, for they looked upon your