The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-23
ESTABLISHED. 1881.


expended thousands of millions In
treasure for their support. We Law
ished the blood of our bravest and
best In battle as if it were
but water. We submitted to all
privations without a murmur. We
staked our lives, our fortunes and our
honor on the issues of the combat,
and by the blessing of God, we came
out of a deadly struggle victorious.
and with courage proved our strength
unimpalred, our power augmented
and oEr place fixed among nations,
second to none. We may without
presumption, say TO the civilized
world, that Providence had smiled on
our exertioDs, and 10 the hours of
supreme trial we felt that while mind
tui OF the good will shown Us By
friendly powers IN the hours Of trial,
we could afford to account in modera-
tlou with. others which, like Great
Britain, had. as we thought, srecu-
lated unprovidently and to their
own discontinue on the unexpected
dismemberment aud downfall of the
great American Republic, As to
Great Britain, we had special aud
peculiar causes of grief She
had premasurely, as we deemed
ii. and without adequate reason,
awarded status of belligerency to in
surgents; but the act of itself aud by
is lncoheTent nature, was of neutral
colors, and that which, however We
might condemn it in a partielar case,
we could not deny to be Of the CON-
potency of q Sovereign State. Other
European Governments also recog-
nized the belligerency of the insur-
gents, but Great Britain had stated
in measure indefinite in itself, to
one OF wrong to the United States, is
evidence by constant and efficient aid
in ships and munitions of war which
she furnished to Confederates, and in
the permission or negligence which
enabled Confederate cruisers from
their ports to prey on the commerce
of the United States. Great Britain
alone had founded on that recOgni-
ton a systematic maritime war against
the United States, and this to effect
the establishment of a slave govern.
ment, Gs to which Mr.. Bright might
we'll say, We supply the ships, we
supply the arms and the munitions Of
war. We gave aid and comfort to the
foulest of crimes. Englishmen only
do il"
After further discussion of the SUBJ
ieet, Mr.. Fish says: The President, in
addition to the general reasons, thinks
the provisions of the Constitution
were inadequate to provide reparation
from the United States, In the manner
and 10 the degree to which he con-
siders the United States entitled TO
vTI-@ua nfhaw nseasaT e.
the same conclusions have been ex-
planned in q previous dispatch, such,
namely, as the time and circum-
stances of the negotiation, the
complex character Of the proposed
arbitration. its chance agency and re-
suits, and its failures to determine any
principle, or otherwise to fix on stable
! foundations the reforms of the two
governments. The President Is not
| yet prepared to pronounce on the
| question of iRdemnitles, which he
thinks were due by Great Britain to
/ Individual citizens of the United
| States, for the destruction of their
property by rebel cruisers, fitted out
/ in the ports of Great Britain, nor is
/ he now prepared to speak Of the rep
/ arations which he thinks due by the
/ British Government. For the longer
account of vast national injuries II
hes inflicted on the United States.
Nor does he attempt now to measure
the relative effect of the various
causes of injury, by the un-
/. timely recognition Of belligeT-
ency, by suffering the fitting
out of rebel cruisers, or BY
the supply of ships, arms and muni.
tions of war to the Confederates OF
otherwise, IN whatsoever manner, oor
does it fall in the scope of this dis
i patch TO discuss the important changes
In the rules of the public law, the de-
sirableness of which has been demon
strated by the incidents Of the last few
years now under consideration, or
which, in view of the maritime power
of the commerce of Great Britain and
tho United States, 1t would be fit for
them to mature and propose TO the
other States Of Christendom. All these
are subjects Of future consideration,
which, when the time for action shall
arrive, the President will consider
with sincere and earnest desire that
all differences between the two ma
tions may be adjusted amicably and
compatibIy with the honor Of each,
and the promotion of future peace
between them, to which end he will
spare no efforts within the range OF
supreme duty to the right and inter
est Of the United States. At the
present stage of controversy, the sole
object of the President is to state the
position, and maintain the attitude oil
the United States IN the various re-
latioDs and aspects of this grave con
troversy with Great Britain. It is
the object of this paper, which you
are at liberty TO read to Lord Clar.
endon, to state calmly and dispas-
sionately, and with more unreserved
freedom than might be used in one
addressed directly to the Queen:
Government, what this Government
considers he.iDjurIes it has suffered
It is not written In the nature Of a
claim, for the United States nGW
make no demands against Her MeJes-
ty's Government on account OF lDju-
ries they feel they have sustained
Although the United States are
anxious for settlement on
liberal and comprehensive
basis of al the questions which
now enter with the entire cordial
, relations which they desire to exist
between the two Governments. They
do not now propose or desire TO set
any time for this settlement. On the
contrary, they propose TO leave that
question, and also the more important
questions of the means and mode o1
removing the causes of complaint: OF
restoring the much desired relations
> OF perfect cordiality, and the prevent
ing Of the probability Of like ques.
tions In the future to the considera-
ton of Her Msiasty's Government,
G4ey will however; be ready.