Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-06-04

AhbiAhAIloN.
But am not going now to discuss the case of
the Alabama, with all its controverted and irri-
tating details. For the settlement of that case
your Government has proposed and ours has ac-
cepted the principle of arbitration, the only fair
and reasonable mode of terminating international
disputes, the only war Of the civilization of the
future. The arbitrators will pass Judgment on
Mr. Summers allegations, on his theory
Of consequential damages, and every other
question involved in the great cause. We
are now virtually in court, and the less said
or written by irresponsible controversalists be-
lore the pleadings commence the better. If the
late treaty was not so framed as fully to answer
all the ends of justice, rejoice that it was re-
Jected | rejoice that il was rejected if it failed
to recognize any principle of international law
or morality which ought to have been recogniz-
ed, though It would seem that the principle Of
liability was fully recognized by the submission
to arbitration. Honor knows no limit TO con-
cess on but that of justice. My only desire as
an Englishman is, that England may pay to the
uttermost farthing any debt which upon any
sane theory she can have incurred, and thus
stand clear before the world and in the hearts Of
her own people | trust also, that if It is made
TO appear before an impartial tribunal that our
Government has failed, however unintentiOnally,
IN the performance Of any Of its international
duties TO A friendly power, the payment Of dam
ages will be accompanied with full acknow-
ledgement Of the error. But if Mr.. Sumner
means . thrust ;rhitratiou asiie-if he means
to insist upon being Judge in his own cause, on
pronouncirr u- guilty which bis iIftmel fancy
can suggest, and tining and humiliating Us at
his discrttion-we shall appeal with confidence
TO the reason and moral sense Of the civilized
world. Mr.. Henry Adams, in the North -4meri-
can RsUisr, says Of Alabama treaty, that if
England could have fOreseen that she would have
to consent to it, She would have closed with the
French proposal Of Intervention.
THE REJECTED TREATY.
This i, at least a proof that the treaty was
conceded by the English Government in gooI
filth. Your Embassidor duly authorized, came
to Us to negotiate for the settlement Of the Ala
hama claim. We could not in any case have
looked behind his credentials and inquired
whether he had enough political support for Us
treat with him hut in this case he had been
unanimously confirmed by the Senate, as we
understood, with this very mission in view.
He proposed terms 10 which the British Gov
ernmeut accede1 without abatement; be propos-
ell TO alter their terms. and the British Govern
lent accelel 10 the alterations The treaty was
ia effect framed at l-hug-on, and this fact dis
poses practically OF any suspicion that the En-
bassadOr corrupted by his reception in Eng
lani-a reception which think on the part Of
the Tories was undguhel, but on the part Of
the people, was at once perfectly consistent and
sincere. Neither when Mr.. johnson went out,
nor while the negotiations were in progress on
basis which seems 20 have been no secret, does
Mr. Sumner appelrel 10 have uttered a w.ri Of
With Us, or as TO the rroprieiy Of the basis on
which he wa- treating When the whole process
had been gone through. the treaty Wa, kicktd
ont Of doors with coutumely, amid burst Of
hostility aud menace against Great Britain The
Senator who was the organ Of that assembly on
the occasion did not even acknowledge by one
courteous word the hum.liating position in ich.
by the act Of his Embassslor, the British Gov
erument had been placed. Mr. Beverdy John
son may have given oiruse here by bis demeluor
ou bis ia -si0u. lt does not become me Co mlse
any remarks upon that subject, hut IN that cl-e
surely the object Of the public resentment ought
TO have been Mr. Rayordy johnson.
uR. SUMMERS SPEECH AND THE ENGLISH rEorlE.
The impression seems 10 prevail that the Eng
lish press, in not giving Mr.. Summers speech Ia
full (which it is said not to have doue). has been
a
the minds # our people. III know anything If
tie English people. the Government, 60 rouse
them 10 fierce and unanimous resistance. 5ls
only 20 circulate that suee-l throughout the
land. 4 whole nation is accused Of euteriu. in
20 a conspiracy for the subyersion Of friendly
power, Of protecting and encouraging piracy,
or itself sending out pirates Of lending nfa-
nous aid in contravention Of its professei prin-
ciples. 20 the most immoral Of all causes, and
told that It has righteously incurred immeasura-
hle penalties, both in the way VI fine and humi-
iatiou Does Mr. Sumner think that be Is ie-
claiming against some monster Of history. vino
is dead and can feel uo more. or does be- snow
that he is pouring insults into living hearts I
have not felt such a sense Of wrong since I
read the lbels on America in some English
newspapers at the time Of the civil war but
those lbels were the work Of anonymous and
irresponsible writers, whose calumnies can
not touch the honor of man or nation. This
is the speech Of the organ Of the Senate, de-
lverei with the concurrence Of all his col
leagues. Iusults are not rendered less bitter
when they are followed 10y professions Of a desire
for concord, which coming ia the train q insults
becomes iu insult IN itself nor /, the sting taken
out OF the threat Of var by putting it INFO the
mouths Of other persons, while the orator him
self takes the fine part Of the Archangel Of
Peace. | am presauied thst the treaty might
have been rejected without causing any irritation
in England, and negotiations might have been
renewed in perfectly amicable s. Iirit, and with
a cordial desire TO give you satisfaction on the
part of the British nation, if the organ Of yorr
Senate hal been a speaker les unconscious Of
the existence of seifre>qect AID seusitiyeues- 90
honor ia other men.
I told You, NY friends at the commencement
Of my address that IL was "a rash undertaking
which you sanctioned by yogr presence here;
and Of all the things which have said this is
the only thing which will have commanded your
respect hope never TO speak again on any
controyertei question bordering upon politics.
My short public life, if it can be dignihed with
that name. has been bounded by the American
struggle and the struggle for the extension Of
the suffrage in England, which was closely con-
nectei with the American struggle, and has been
greatly influenced by IFS result. Ny FIRST speech
in public WAS made against the Alabama; this,
1 trust, will be my last. ! repeat that there is
no living fnglishman who has more reason to be
grateful and attached TO America than have,
but a mans attachment to an adopted untry
is worthless if he has no regard for the honor Of
his own.