The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-23
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY DECEMBER o. s-TRIPLE SHEET

gards Great Britain. On the occasion of the revolt
OF the British colonies with that OF Great Britain,
fleets were fitted out by America In the ports OF the
Netherlands 10 prey on the commerce OF Great Bril-
tain. Only In single instance did American cruisers
have Temporary harDorage la TexeI Year alter year
the exports or munitions OF war Tor the Netherlands
were ioroiuden by the states General. the more
towards Great Britain. But, nevertheless, Great
Britain treated q declaration OF neutrality by the
States General, and the observance OF that decara-
ton as sufficient cause Of against the Neither
lands, prior to which the British government con-
derived by the colonies from tue Island 81. Eusta-
titus. How light IN this respect would have been tile
rection Is British aid had been confined to
contraband commerce between the insur
gents and the port OF Nassau. Not such 10
the complaint OF the United States against Great
Britain. We complain that the nsurrectlon in the
Southern States II 1t did not exist. continued
resources 1t drew from Great Britain. We complain
that by reason OF the Imperfect discharge Of It's
ment Great Britain became the military, naval and
financial basis OF the insurpent warfare against the
Upe our sass cU %arse s sSs
manned BY British seamen, armed with
British guns, despatched from British DOCK
yards sheltered and harnored IN British ports.
we complain that by reason oil the policy and acts
OF the Queens Ministers injury ilcalculabe was
ficted on the United States.
Never theless the United States manfully aud
utely encountered all the great peris aud d1iultes
Of the situation, foreign and domestic, and over
manifestation OF hostility there where we had ex-
pected friendship In England the protagon.st OF
NATE WHICH y the Southern atas or had 70 aeceoe
from the union. We entered q great
war; nyo s,S ,, sea , ana and we marched
soldiers and expended thousands OF millions in
treasure Tor their support; we lavshed the blood OF
our Druvest and best in battle ii 1t we're but
water; we submitted 70 all prvatlon without muir
mur; we staked our lives, our fortunes and
honor ON the issue OF the COMBAT and oy the bless
torious and, with courage proved. strength uaim
pared power augmented and our place liked among
the nations second to none we may without pre-
sumption say In the civilized world Providence had
smiled on our sacrifice and exertions. and In the
hour Of supreme trial elt that while mindful Of
good viii shown US BY friendly Powers In the hour OF
trial. we could afford to account IN moderation vita
Others which, like Great Britain, had thought
speculated improvidenty and TO their own discomd
ture on the unexpected dismembement and downfall
OF The great American republic. AZ 10 Great Britain
we had special and peculiar causes OF grief she had
prematurey. as we deemed It, and without adequate
reason awarded the status VI Delligerency TO our
insurgents But the act OF Itself and by It's inco-
herent nature OF neutral color and act
which, however we might condemn 1t In the
particular case, we could not deny to be
or the competency OF sovereign state. Other Eu-
r0pean governments also recognized the Deliiger-
ency OF the insurgents but Great Britain alone mad
translated indefinite OF itself into one OF
definite wrong to the United States az evnced by
the constant and efficient aid In ships and NUM-
crates, and IN the PERMISSION or negligence which
enabled Confederate cruisers from her ports
States gIeS Great N" Britain a,oae had ' founded
On that recognition systematic maritime
war against the United States and this to effect the
establishment Of q slave government as to which
Mr. Bright might well say, I'VE supply the ships, we
supply the arms, the munitions OF war. We gave
aid and comfort to the foulest OF crimes English
men only doit.u
Thus, what in France, IN Spain, as their subse..
qqent Conduct showed had been an unIimey anu
lana, as her subsequent conduct showed. been a
virtual act OF war. We rejected That the Confed-
rau hnAn M ahrn M 1nn nj IA
mechanical appliance no marine no legal status
on the sea no open seaports no possible courts Of
prize no domestic command OF the instruments
and agencies OF modern maritime warfare We asked
ourselves, 'sWhat would the Queens government
have sad 4 the United states nad awarded me
ireland in the same circumstances-that Is, on The
occurrence OF a single act of rebel nostlty-and had
bestowed upon them their only means OF mari.
time as well as territorial warfare against Great
Brtanw
In truth wlale In the hour OF their great triumph,
the United States were thankfully inclined to senti-
ments OF moderation. Doth at home and abroad Tor
AT nome no man has suffered death for political
causes. We we're thus more inclined to modera.
toa,. especially as regards Great Britain,
in view OF the enormity OF the wrongs we had
inn the reparatnn owe, even II sincerely proncred
by The Queens government. we desired no war
with England. We shrink from the thought OF
another lustrum OF fratricidai carnage like that
through which we had Just passed, with no change
one eide OF misguided Engsnmcn in place OF
misguided Americans. We preferred If possible,
L
by peaceful means consistent alike with the
honor OF Great Britain and OF the United
States. The influence OF this condition OF mind
Is apparent in all the discussions OF the subject by
or under the instruction OF this department during
the preceding administrations Of the government
Ii resulted in earnest efforts part to deter
niue the controversy by arbitration IN the interest
Of peace and OF international good VIII, which
efforts. II promptly met by the Queens Minister IN
the spirit In winch they were made would long since
have removed the present controversy from the
neld Of diplomacy ami efectuaIly harmonized the
al
But the amicable advances OF the United States to
dispose OF the question by arbitration were at the
Lord RUSSELL in the name OF the Queens government,
with subtetIes OF reservation and exception, the
effect OF which would have been instead OF closing
up the controversy, to leave US IN condition worse
than before and more pcrilous to the cause
States pea has never BEEN aee 10 APPRECIATE the
force Of the reasons alleged In support OF
such reservation aud exceptions When one Power
demands OF another the redress OF alleged wrongs,
and the latter cntertains the Idea OF arbitration
the means Of settling the question, iG seems IRA
tionai to insist tnat the arbitration snail he quail
fled and limited one through apprehensions lest,
pcradventurc, there might thus be Implication that
ana that such Implication would be INJURIOUS
to the honor Of the wrong doing government on
these premises arbitration may be the means Of adj
justing immaterial national wrongs but not material
ones that Is 10 say II the grievances be serious the
two nations must OF necessity 80 to war while
conclusion. Lord Stanley and Lord clarcn-
don appear to have seen this and therefore
to have regarded the particular question with
more correct estimations OF It's incidents than
Lord Russell, and thereupon to have admitted
theory comprehensive arbitration concerning all
questions between the governments. Bnt the con-
vention which In this view was negotiated BY the
Earl OF Clarendon and Mr.. Reverdy Johnson did not
prove satisfactory to the Senate OF the United States.
IL well known to the government Of Great Britain
that the President and the Senate OF the United
States are distinct powers OF the government
ciated in tho conclusion Of treaties and in the APP
pointment Of public officers but not dependent one
the other OF necessity entertaining the same
ntrtA Ito eh nGf in
ae convictions OF duty and Of right and the Senate
has the same absolute power To reject treaty the
President has negotiate one OF course. It IS not
necessarily incumbent on the President to express
approval or dsapproval OF an act OF the Senate;
bat the President deems 1t due to the Senate,
to himself and 10 the subject, to declare
that he concufs with the Senate In disapprov-
ing OF that convention. Hts own particular
reasons for this conclusion are sufficiently apparent
In tl,sn oh In ION ~ fhnaa unn nI