The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-02

Dultles OF tho Would-be phllanthr0plsts VIII
whom Philadelphia appears to be overrun.
We call for no more pardons, mild sentences,
or releasing OF fines, so far as any criminals
| within our county are concerned, for some time
! to come.
The Alabama Treaty-Revcrdy johnson.
A FEw YEARS ago Senator OF the United
States John p. Hale) was charged, in New
England newspaper, with receiving fee Of
! S3OOOas counsel for prisoner accused foffsnses
against the Government. In making a per-
| sonal explanation in regard to this affair in
the Senate, he acknowledged that the allega-
ton was we'll founded, and he justified himself
! by the plea that none of his rights as q law
yer were forfeited by his service as Sena-
tor, except in cases where he was forbidden to
lsact as counsel by an express law. He stated,
however, that as he feared there might be
some improperly in his double service, he
concluded to consult his friend and Senatorial
colleague Reverdy Johnson, and he accordingly
prOpOunded to that distinguished gentleman
the question whether it was wrong for
Senator to defend person imprisoned in the
Old Capitol on charge Of fraudulent prao.
tices on the War Department. The reply, as
given by Senator Hale, was as follows:-
"Mr. Johnson looked at me ss If he thought
pdS rather green TO ask SDoh question, aud re-
plicd with great prOmptness ana great empha.
sic, Not the least objection under heaven
'WelI,' said l, MIR. Johnson that acc ords vita
my own opinion OF what the law Is aud the
right Is; hut in 2 matter Of this kind want to
ask still further, is theie anything Indalioate In
such ali engagement? p Not the slightest In tle
world said he. lie then went on to give at
some length tnOt We y long) his views OF what
limited by Congress la one PARTICULAR which he
thought an unWiEe restriction, ana that was.
before the Corrt Of Claims: but said ne. as to
this matter yon are asking about. lam donq IL
erCTD TCek;' do not know that ne aid not say
every day in the week"
Reverdy Johnson, who was present in the
Senate when the above explanation was made,
rose, after the conclusion of Mr.. hale's re-
marks, and acknowledged the substantial
correctness of the statement we have quoted,
defending at some length the doctrines in
reference TO the privileges Of Senatorial law
yeTs which it enunciates.
A few months ago 8 story went the rounds
of the press to the effect that Rsverdy john
son, in acting as special commissioner or
agent for the Government at New Orleans
during the war, managed TO discharge his
public duties in manner so acceptable to
parties who had heavy pecuniary interests
involved, that he received from them a very
large fee for comparatively unimportsnt ser
vices subsequently rendered as their private
counsel.
These incidents are Of no public Importance
unless they serve to illustrate the character
of the gentleman charged with the responSi-
a., l,,fxt cf ba l,vr
veTnmOnt al tue CJur. of St, James. The
old style of ambassador was defined to be q
man sent into foreign countries to promote, at
all hazards, ever TO the extent OF downright
talsifcation, tie interests of his native land.
If any body is wicked enough to sup
pose that the pegotiator OIL the part of the
United States, of the Alabama treaty, carries
his notions of the privileges of counsel SO far
as to hold that there is no indelioacy or iu-
propriety in acting in the double capacity OF
minister and attorney for claimants on either
side of the water, he must also be ready to
believe that the Office Of ambassador has been
invested with new attributes, and that ii offers
marvellous opportunities for combining a
lucrative professional practice with the occu-
pancy of an exalted public position.
The Alabama treaty may be very satisfac-
tory document to private claimants, and it is
we'll designed to extract money from the
treasures OF both the high contracting parties.
1t ignores on its face, however, the principal
grievance of America, and at the same time
opens wide door for all classes of British
claimants.
The piratieal cruisers sent forth from the
shores OF England nearly annihilated Ameri-
can commerce. The actual loss suffered can
scarcely be computed in money, but 1t must
amount to hundreds Of millions of dollars.
Our proud flag was well nigh driven from the
ocean, and blow was given to our shipping
interests from which they may never recover.
The mischief or loss resulting from any single
capture to the owners of the ship seized con-
stituted but an ipfnitesimal portion of the
damage inflicted upon this country. Under
writers were compelled to advance the rate Of
insurance on American ships, which were thus
rendered incapable of competing with their
English rivals. The Confederate flag was
made mere cover for deadly British warfare
upon our mercantile marine, and the regis
tered tonnage of the United States was reduced
with frightful rapidity.
However gratifying it may be to individual
sufferers to have the positive losses they sus
tanned by the capture ftheir vessels refunded
by the British Government, the redress o.