The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-02
Senator Grimes Letter to the London Tines
LoSDoN, May 10, 1869.
H ~ KI4s,. f tho Inpl.p Tiuaa

LoSDoN, May 10, 1869.
O.. the Editor Of tho London Times
SIN: VIII you permit an American, who
has read oil the articles published 10 your
columns within The last two weeks ON
American affairs and who thinks he has "a
t0lprably correct judgment Of the public
,gaumcutof his country, TO assure you
I. That there never has been time
Within the last fifty years when there was IN
the United States less disposition to 60 10
war with any country, least Of all with
Great Britain, than there is at the present
moment.
>. That the Senate Of the United S,ates,
hy their vote on what is called the "Ala
bama treaty, simply agreed to the conclu
sion at which Sumner arrived 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 supported IT,
3. That Mr.. Sumner delivered an rlab
crate speech on this subject, which he had
been for weeks preparing, and from which
lie desired the injunction Of sccresy 20 be
removed, q request that is always granted
by the Senate. All other remarks made on
the occasion were informal and CONVERSE
u1ual. and the speakers neither felt nor cX-
pressed any similar desire for publicity.
s. That there were various causes not
generally known, and which IL is needless 20
alluie to, that couspired TO secure the rcicc.
ton 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, a. agreed upon in the treaty
gave an appearance AT least o! probable un
fairness IN the arbitration.
u. That England's oTeuse in the eyes o.!
4 nericaus is not "that she conceded beihg.
ereut rights 10 the ConiederacY at Il time
when the southern Stotes had apparently
established themselves as an independent
powers; or that she recognized their be.lIg-
tTent rights at any time, nor that We did not
enjoy the full sympathy of her cItzcns dur.
ing the rebellion. Their real grievance Is
that the Alabama, built aud fitted out in an
LuglIsh port, never ran into Confederate
port 30 as to acquire the legal character of
Confederate bel.gcrent, technically or 9TH
erwise that she was in truth an English
vessel, sailing from a British port under the
British flag, manned by British sailors, was
everywhere cordially received, supplied and
coa.ed at British stations, while such hospi.
talily was denied to American cruisers
that she never had any other home than the
port Of Liverpool from which she originally
departed, and remained, IN law end con.
science, British vessel until she sank bc.
meath the waves. This is our grievance
All else Is the establishment Of the advo.
cate aud orator.
g. That while it ID not to be denied that
there is a 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
-, Lawrence river, which drains a large
portion Of their territory, it is also true that
many Of the Atlantic States are opposed to
their acquisition, because they fear that, If
acquired, the West vii, have uninterrupted
water communication with Europe, without
passing through and being trlbut"ry g
them. The intelligent people OF the " eS
are patiently hiding their time, IN the tu'
faith that when the British government con
cludes, as they sooner or later wilLooncIude
that the provinces are an element OF oNpen
sive weakness to It, and that it will no lonf
er support them, they will be qslte a
anxious to Join the United States as the
public men, who almost exclusively eng
the bounty bestowed by the home govern
ment, now profess to be unwilling TO do E
There is not respectable minority Of 81
party in any state OF the Union that won
for moment Justify an attempt to wre
the Canadas BY force from the BIRTH
crown.
+. am not prepared to say what mi
be the specific instructions with which n
Motley may come to England but | q
prepared to say that they will not be 9th
than Of the most pacific character,
should be borne in mind that under O
government the Senate is part Of t
treaty making power, thai the rejection
amendment Of g treaty by the body is
frequent occurrence, and that such reje
uon furnishes no reason to the Americt
MIND why efforts at negotiation should Il
be renewed again and again. Possibly NJ
Motley may NOT Soc instructed TO take Il
initiative IN new treaty, bat that shou
not be the cause Of uuea,iness on III. IA
Of auy one, and certainly canno. be t
cause of war.
An ANga.>y CITIZEN.