The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-07
General Butler nd the Alabama Claims.

In dieoussing the Alabama claims, it
must always be borne in mind that if Eng
land was wrong in recognizing the SSouth
ern Confederaoy, we have the same cause
for complaint against France and Spain,
and that any Of the three could set off
against the claim of the United States the
action Of the Federal government in 90
the South as belligerent.
These views are sustained by so extreme
Radical as General Butler, who, in a recent
conversation with q New York oorrespon-
dent, said
''The thesis of Mr.. Summers speech, as I
understand it, is that England committed an
''almost objectionable sin-at least one to be
''atoned for only by full payment Of all dam
'sages, immediate or consequential her too
's'early according to the insurgents bellgerent
''rights;in allowing the escape Of the Alabama,
''and in selling arms and munitions OF war
$50 tiae South. O. course, the last legally re-
''sulted from the first; for after belligerency is
accorded by nation there is no objection to
"the sale OF arms by any neutral natien to the
"belligerent. We sold arms to Mexico as
''against the French invasion; we supplied
''mules to the French to transport their lug
gage trains from Vera Cruz to Mexico. So
1--WE bought arms Of all nations in Europe. So
"there is nothing in our neutrality laws against
'our selling arms either to Peru or Ohili, and
Eve have been selling them arms In their war
''against Spain.
Therefore the gravity Of Mr.. Summers ac-
''cusation depends upon the propriety Of the
recognition by England Of the rights Of bel
'9gerency In the rebels. But we must remem-
"ber that our complaint in that behalf is as
'sgrave and commanding against France and
."Spain as against England. am inclined to
.'think Mr. Sumner puts too much stress upon
s'the haste Of this recognition as to time, be-
''oause on the 18th of July by formal declara
''tion Of war we acknowledged the Confederacy
''as belligsrent; and in war which lasted four
''years, whether belligerency was Acknowledged
ION the 18th Of May or the 18th Of July of the
) tfrst year, certainly could not be matter of
$50 grave consequence. fit might be acknowl-
"edged at ALL" ,
It being conceded that England had the
law on her side, what, then, is to be done?
General Buffers theory is that she took
advantage Of technical law to injure
friendly power, being determised to destroy
the United States at all hazards, and that
this is just as much an injury that requires
reparation as though the acts had been done
without technical legal justification. But
how is the offender to be expected to con-
cede that he had not the law on his side
when in point of fact he had Z? England
may have been unfriendly to the North, but
she wasno less unfriendly to TIE South.
In refusing to join the Emperor Napoleon
in recognizing the Southern Confederacy,
her statesmen committed bl1nder of which
they already repent This country, North
and South, is dissatisfied with England, and
England is jealous Of the American Union.
Neither the dissatisfaction Of The one nor
the Jealousy of the other, however, will ia
oilitate the settlement of the ~Alabsms
claims. Butler himself is not in favor of
going to war, though he would have us
await an opportunity when England is at
war and then let loose feet of Alabamas.
Negotiations are futile as long as the de-
mand is that Great Britain shall acknowl-
edge tnat sue WAS wrong In recognizing the
South. The door Of diplomacy is closed.
War would be the total destruction of the
commerce and trade Of the country. What
have we, then, to do but to wait and reopen
the question at later day upon basis
which shall give this country all to which
1t is entitled, without attempting to impose
upon England conditions which national
pride will not allow her for . moment to
entertain,P ,,~ @