, 1869-07-12

EEe Explains nnd Defends his Course
ms Minister.
Rcyerdy johnson 3 lanored defence to Secretary
Seward. dated February y, and sent pttrately 70
Whale I ] course of his Mlnissr7, sud elosey details
md delcLds bis action IN al particulars The
public arc famflisf with the main polnks Of nego-
claims 10 have moved strictly within his inBtsuc-
tons, though the tendency 10 plotrude his own
opipionF ~Hyond those OF his government is mani"
ton begins In defence and ends 10 argument. 1t
Ia well, however to quote his summing up:
~ hare thus, a. more length than Jo1 may
deem necessary, considered ne Alabama ta ciatms'
In four despatches to Nj, Adams, and his des-
patches 70 Her Majesty 3 GoreInment: bnt hare
deemed It dne to myself and to you that should
place upon record my own views relating TO each
Of the subjects bt the several treaties hsve nego-
Hated. have done this with no vtcM 70 E1y own
jastineasion for tns y p & BE- f9and an 3o1r n,
glad to Know to the satisfaction Of the President
and yourself. hcar that IN sotne quaftera ooJec-
lions are made to the CiAus Consention, for
:od fa caa q ee shaaa
be oil that havt astsen subsequent to july, 1873;
sion Of uuy losses which our government, as such,
may have sustained By the recognition oi the
Insurgents as bellsetents and the depts-
other vessels. In regard to the nrss, DO not see
upon what ground Of justice We should deny to
our citizens the opportunity Of haytnE thelr claims
upon this government adjusted by means OF tha
commission, whatever may be the dasel Of their
origin, when they hare not previously had TINT
opportunity. understand that there arc many
hardship. and beside Tho justice due to shis
class Of claimants, lt1a nost de.isalse thAt -
settled by meAps OF The conFentfou. ~ otherwise
they ns5 be the subjects Of controversy here
aiteg; A. 1eSards ;hs second o. oo]esnon, am u y
snouId M % b. indeInnided ior. How Is Il to bs -.
ured: A nAtion's honor can have no coE,-
peuBalion In money, and the depredat!ons OF the
Alabama were Of property ID which our natlon n2d
those dcrfedattous prevented tne sending forth Of
our commercial enterprises, the answer u two
iold First, that II they had been sent forth the
aud. secoud, thai it conl1 not be known snnt any
such would hare been taken, Upon Nhst ground.
therefore. coald the nation demand compensation
Is to so into The Treasury for the use Of the gov.
e1nmene, or to be distributed among those who
may have engaged ID such enterprises. and hoT
aEcertalned Franco recognized the lns1rEentz
~ belllEe-ents, and this mAE have tended to pro-
long III wtr. THIS, too, 1t may be hatd, was
honof S,o101 II y ae 1 ean eaia indemntI5 for oar
nation for 8uca recognition oy h1X~
land, We eau equally claim IT q France and WHO
and conclusive answer to these objections Is this:
Flint, that at no time during the Har, while the
Alaa1nh anil her sister shps were engaged u CIV
ing OUT marine 10 the 1aUeA, or since, no Nance
Of The goreInment proposed 70 hold Her Aa}eaiy
Government responsible except to the sA!ae q
tho property deauu5ed, ana tnat nnico Moe!a
In which they we're engaged The EotefnheqMt y
neser exacted anything On It's own aecouuk. i
acted sny - thS Eosla@a @ ana fh.t g ~
government should pay their Losses or AFtoe 70
fnbm!t The question Of tts liability 70 friendly ~