The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-16
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

ence relating relating to the Alabama claims down
to the 0th OF May last the date at which Mr. John
written by Mr. Seward prior to his retirement from
ONCE, was the following in response to Mr.. John
sons elaborate defense OF himself OF the 18th OF
MR. SEWARD TO MR. JOHNSON.
DEPARTMENT or STATE, WASHINGTON, March D.,
1s6e.-Sr:-Your despatch No ~, OF the lIsh ult,
relative to the protocol and convention recently
signed by you on behalf OF this Government has this
day been received and submitted to the President.
He directs me to say in reply that IT is regarded as
communcated to the senate had It not reached here
at the close OF the present session and that OF his
That BODY W. Ii be called to it early in It's next session
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
Reverdy Johnson, ESQ.,, etc.
MIR. johnson was advised by cable as early as the
22d OF February, that the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations had resolved 20 report adversely
TO the ratification of the convention, hut he assumed
that the coming in OF a new administration would
delay nna action. lie therefore set to work. on his
own responsibility it appears, TO procure an amend
ment to the convention which should provide for
the settlement of all claims that either Government
might have upon the other His first visit, with this
view, was made to Lord Clarendon, March %.
Clarendon thus alluded TO the interview in q des-
patch TO Dir. Thornton Of the same date:-
THE EARL or CLARENDON TO Mr.. THORNTON.
FoREIGN OFFICE, March %, 1s69.-Slr-Mr. Reverdy
Johnson called upon me to-day to propose that an
amendment, Of which incose copy, thould he
made to Article OF the Conyention as he thought 1t
would satisfactorily meet the objections entertained
by the Senate to the Convention, aud would secure
its ratification by that body.
Introduce an entirely new feature into the conyen-
tiOn which was for the settlement OF claims between
the subjects and citizens OF Great Britain and the
United States; but that the two Governments not
having put forward any claims on each other, |
could only suppose that his object to favor the
introduction OF some claim by the Government Of
the United States for injury sustained on account Of
the policy pursued by her Maicstys Government.
Mr. Reyerdy johnson did not object to this inter
pretaton OF his amendment, but said that if claims
to compensation on account of the recognition by
the British Government OF the bellgerent rights OF
the COnfedGrates were brought forward by the Gov
eminent OF the United States the British Govern
ment might on its part bring forward claims to COM
pensation for damages done 10 British subjects by
American bockades which, If the CoGfederates
not belligerents Illegally enforced against
replied that amendments has repeatedly been
made during the negotiations in order to meet the
wishes OF the United States Government, and to
seeure.as II is said, the assent OF the Senate, but
that our course OF proceeding had not met in
corresponding spirit; and we only knew that con-
trary to custom, the convention had at once been
published not only before it was ratified, but before
il had been taken into consideration by the Senate
and that to this day, we had not been informed OF
the objections made to the convention by the Com
mttee OF the Senate, or whether the Senate would
come to decision upon it or not
Under these circumstances, said that it did not
seem proper for her Majestys Government TO take
any further step in the matter, or to adopt any
amendment Of the convention, even If 1t had been
Mr. Johnson requested me to take it into consider
alton, and assured him that would bring his pro-
posal to the knowledge OF my colleagues, but that |
did not think their view Of 1t would differ from my
own.
MR. THORNTON TO THE EARL or CLARENDON.
WASHINGTON, March 23, 1s69.-My Lord:-I have
been informed by Nj. Sumner, the chairman OF the
Committee on Foreign Relations, that the conven-
ton on claims signed by your Lordshp on the 14th
of January last will be submitted to the Senate in
Executive session as soon as an opportunity shall
Offer. But ali other business has been delayed by
the prolonged discussion on the Tenure-of-ofdce act
where that Mr. Sumner has prepared a lengthy expo
sition which will be submitted with the committees s
adverse report on the convention and that its tone
excite a warlikp
land. When last saw Mr.. Sumner, a few days ago.
he of his own accord alluded to these reports and
declared in an earnest manner that his statement on
the convention would in no way display hostile
spirit against us, but would merely set 1ortn ana sup
mort by strong arguments the views held by the
people OF the United States with respect to the
course pursued by England during the late civil war
with regard to the Southern States
AS far it possible to form all opinion OF 80 nu
merous body the Senate voting in secret session
upon the convention in question, my belief is that
will fail to obtain in its favor the necessary two.
thirds of their votes have etc ,r,..,,...o,.
ON the 25th OF March, Mr.. Johnson addressed the
following letter to Clarendon, setting forth his new
proposition in full II is interesting as showing
phase OF the negotiations that never was fully under
stood
mr. REvERDY JOHNSON TO THE EARL OF CLARENDON
LEGATION or THE UNITED STATES, LONDON, March
25, 1s69.-My Lord:-I know you fully concur with
me that 1T is important to the interests and iran
guilty OF both our countries that the convention
signed by us on the 14th Of January last should &c
into operation. AS this cannot be effected without
the ratification OF the convention by the Senate OF
the United states it necessary TO remove the OBJ
lection which that body is supposed to entertain
10 it. have reason to believe that the Objection
consists in the fact that the convention provides
only for the settlement by arbitration OF the lndiyl
dual claims of British subjects and American cltl
Zens upon respective Governments, and no
for any claims which either Government, as such
NAV have upon the other. II am right in this, as
think am, the principle OF arbitration is not dsap
proved Of on the contrary, all that the Senat
desires is that the entire controversy as to claim
shall be included within it, so as thereby to be nnal
settled. ,,,
fhaf has al Majesty
Government, because OF the consequences resulting
from premature recognition OF the Confederate
during our late war, and from the hitting out or TN
Alabama and other similar vessels IN her Majesty
ports, and from their permitted entrance lnto othe
ports to be rehted and proysioned during thei
pratical cruise.
The existence of such claim makes it as nece'
xary that its ascertainment and adjustment shall
provided for as the individual claims growing out
the same circumstances.
AS / explained TO your lordship, at the Interview
which had the honor TO have with you on Monda.
the 2od Instant the decision of the arbitration upo
the claim in question may he such as TO give liz
Maiestys Government cl aim upon the Unite
States. therefore how oncally propose 10 yot
lordship that we sign supplemental convention
which shall only so far alter the one OF the 14th
January as to provide that the claims which eith'
Government may have upon the other snail be Il
oluded within it, and be settled in the same wa
This can be done by inserting IN the first article att
the word 'agree" in the first line, these words:
s'That all claims on the part OF Her Malestys 60
eminent upOn the Government or the | nlted state
and all claims OF the Government OF the Unite
states upOn Her Maesy's Government, and leaviI
the rest OF the article unchanged -
such a precauton as TINS would ! nave every re
son TO believe, at once result III the ratihcatlon
the Convention by the Senate. And as 1t would
no degree compromise the rights or honor OF elth
Government, but merely carry out the principles
arbitration upcn which the Convention OF the l4th
January rests earnestly hope that her Majesty
Government will consent 10 IL. , ,.