The New York herald., 1869-04-15
Senator Summers Speech on the john
sOa-Clarendon Treaty.
England's Policy Towards the Re-
bells and the Union.
The "Bslligerent Rights" Concession, irming
AMI Sailing Of tie Pirate.
Our National Loss in Tonnage
S110,000,O0O.

We publish below the speech delivered by Senator
Sumner on Tuesday before the United States Senate
IN executive session. the subject OF the Alabama
claims settlement treaty negotiated in London be-
tween Minister Reverdy johnson and Lord Clareu-
don, and which has just met such signal rejection
at the hands OF the Senators. Mr. Summers his
torlcal resume OF the course and policy OF Great
Britain towards the Union, from the hurried conces-
sion OF 'Degerent nghts' to the rebels in arms to
the fitting out oi the pirate Alabama, and thence TO
the moment OF her latest operations against our
mercantile marine, IS eminenty accurate in Its
chronological orier logical, patriotic and TO the
point it viii, therefore, command the attention Of
the public.
& The Senate having met in executive session. and
the Injunction of secrecy being removed by order
Mr.. Sumner rose and said:-
Mr.. PREsIDENT-A report recommending that the
Senate do net advise anu consent TO u treaty with a
foreign Power, duly signed bS the Plenipotenary
OF the nation Is OF rare occurrence. Treaties are
often reported with amerdments and sometimes
without any recommendation; but DO not recall an
instance, since came into the Senate, where such
treaty has been reported with the recommendation
which is now under consideration. The character
OF The treaty seemed TO justify the exceptional
report. The committee did not hesitate in the
jected aud they have said SO. l do not
disguise the Importance OF thus act; but
beseve that in the interest OF peace. which
every one should have at heart the treaty must be
rejected. A treaty which, instead OF removing
existing grievance, leaves 1t for heartburning and
IancOr cannot be considered q settlement OF pend
ing questions between two nations. 1t may seem
to settle them, but does not. IL Is nothing but
snare. And sucn Is the character OF the treaty
now before US. The massive grievance under
which our country suffered for years Is LEFT un-
touched; the painful sense OF wrong planted in the
national heart Is allowed 10 remain. For all this
there is not one word Of regret or even OF recogn
tion; nor Is there any sempiance OF compensation.
Ii cannot ne for the interest OF either party that
such a treaty should be ratified. IL cannot pro-
mote the interest OF the United States, for we
naturally seek justice as the foundation OF good
understanding with Great britain, can 1t pro-
mote the interest OF Great Britain, which must also
seek real settlement OF all pending questions.
Surely DO not eIr when say that q wise states
mansRip, whether on our side or the other side,
must apply Itself TO hnd the real root OF evil, and
then, with courage, tempered by candor and
moderation, that Is eNtrpated. This Is for the
interest OF both parties, and thing short OF it Is
afailure. II Is suihclept TO say that the present
treaty does no sucn tnln. and that whatever may
have been the disposition OF the negoiators. the real
root OF eyil remains uatouched III al its original
strength. / maze these re MARKS merely TO charac-
teTize the treaty and prepare the way for It's con-
sideration.
If we look at the negotiation which Immediately
preceded the treaty, we hnd little to commend
You have II ON your table. tlnk am not mistaken
when say that 1t shows a haste which finds Jew
Drecedens In diplomacy but which Is explained by
the anxiety 10 reach conclusion before the advent
OF new administration. Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Rev.
erdy Johnson both unite In this unprecedented
activity, using the Atlantic cable freely. 1 should
eect to haste or TO the freest use OF the cable,
the result were such as could be approved: but con-
sidering the character OF tie transaction
and how completely the treaty conceais
the main cause OF offence, it seems as
II the honorable negotiations were engaged IN
huddlng something out OF sight. The treaty has for
It's model the Claims Convention OF 1898. To take
guch convention as model was strange MIS-
take. This convention for the settlement OF out
standing claims OF American citizens on Great bri-
tan a,a Oh brltisn supjeets on tue ehiea states
which had arisen since the Treaty OF Ghent In 1915
1t concerned individuals only and not the nation. IL
was not In any respect political; nor was 1t 10 re-
Jove any sense or natlon wrong. To take such
conyentloIi the model for treaty which was TO
tieterIns anatt5na grievance Of transcendent lin,
portance in the relations OF 0o eeup.ries ina,heu
on the threshold an lnsensiblIty " tnS tue uatie
OF the difference 70 be settled AT once t bs..'ieS
the work 10 be done.
An inspection OF the treaty shows how from be.
ginning 20 end u Is merely for the settlement OF ind
yidual claims on both Sides putting both patches
an equalty-so mat the sufferers by the misconduct
q. En.land nay pc counterbalancea by English
bl0ckaderurners. 1t OPENS with preamble. which,
instead OF announcing The unprecedented question
between the two countries, simply refers TO lndi
vidual claims which have arisen since 1S53-wlicn
was the last time OF scttlement-some or which are
still pending and remain unsettled. Who would be-
conceal,d that unsettled difference which has
already so deeply sEried tho American people and
Is destined uGl nnally adjusted 10 occupy the atien
ton OF the civilized worldf Nothing here gives no.
tee Of the real question. unSc the preamble as IL
Is The keynote 70 the treaty.
Whereas have various tines tho exehanee
OF rancs1n- Of the convention between Britain
the United OF America, sisned LONDON the
BrRanic Majesty the of citizens Of the United states
And upon The government o tie United States oa ne part OF
t pending and remain unseed her Majesty TIE queen OF
redsas Ss Sc Uaa s s. & eng q oTnS
that speedy Aad equitable settlement OF all such claims Wal
sonl.iea.e much 70 We aai9tinance ss ,r. ts'nss
N.,.A ,ae eounirits, have resolved
youti0n.
The provisions OF the treaty are for the trial OF
these cases. A commission ls constituted, which Is
empowered to choose an arnitrator but IN The event
OF lanure 10 agree, the arbitrator saal DC deter
mined ''by lotn cut Of two persons named by eacn
side Even II this aleaory proceeding were proper
device in the umpuage OF private cians, u IL
sIrangeiy ncon stsnl Wl,h The soiemnity which be-
longs 10 the present question. Tue moral sense ~
DISTURBED ny such process OF any ssaSe OF te .fi,
selection OF sovereign or head OF friendly State
as arbitrator The treaty not merely makes no pro
vslon for tue determination OF the great quesuon,
but it seems 70 prOyiae expressly that it shQ never
hereafter BE- presented. The petty provision
for inuvidual Gains, subject 70 set-On IRON
the ind ydual claims Of Eu.ilani that in the end
country may possibly receive nothing, u tle con
ndcraton for THIS strange surrender. l polrow wv a
term rom an ENGLISH statesman on another occ.
sion II call 10 ",aptuutyn." For tfe se,ticmeui
OF few Individual c aims we condone me o.gina p;
Approaching aud destruc tivc wrong. Here are the
plain words by which this Is done:-
The high eonacne parties enpsse 70 consider the renl
s,,ieruent oi every claim npon ear asng
OF any arsaciol Of da1e Prior % s ecsesse oi Tue ra.
rvstv snch ain, whethcr not the may have be
e ssa is nS. e. q s maui sS ssr tho co q Il
reoceednss of the said cantnslion 5c oon.acrei an
catad huay settled aud Dafreli Ani tlehceioss ~a
ml6siile.
An this quote directly from the treaty. it
article 1--WE. Iuo national cause ~ handcd q
nothing more than Duadle OF individual claims
and tue result oi the pioceedingl under tue Pr
posed treaty h to be "full and final sctt tefnen
SO that hereafter all Claims 'shal be c0nsdefed an
treated inaliy &c Tied ana Darreu ahd tnen.eiOI
lasatnssg ble.u Here is no provision for the rea
question which trough thrust OUT OF tixhtf or ue
eargd 10 be "lnaly settcd and DaTel,' accOfdiD
TO the terms OF tuc treaty. nuu return to payuc ~
two cUuntrcA Whatever tue treaty ray say !
terms there is no settlement la ftct, ana ultl thi
"a maze there VIII be constant IneddCe OF diScOlu
Nor Gun lt De forgotten that there ~ no recognize
OF the rule Of International duty arphcabie 20 sue
cases. Ihia, too Is let unsettled.
While dDag 30 little fog Us ne treaty make
arnple prOvls0n for all known clains on tlp Brlts
sIde. AS these are exclusively "iniNduali the
are completely covered ~ the text, which has n
limitations OK cXeogtlons. Ancady ~ ~ announcet
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