The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-04-15
GtreQnteltiQen
THE ALABAMA TREATY.
Mr.. Summers Great speech-ReteeIon
of the Treaty.

OA LAe kEeatys
WASHINGTON, D. G. April 10, 1869.
Senator sumner made his long eX-
pected report upon the Alabama treaty
In executive session to-day, and accom-
panied 1t with q speech which occupied
TWO hours In delivery. The Senate gave
very earnest attention not only to the
speech but the whole subject In hand.
There was a verV general feeling that
the matter should be treated as one of
the utmost gravity, as a possibility of
involving war at some future day un-
less managed with the greatest wisdom.
Senator Summers opening objection to
the treaty was that 1t did not rise to the
dignity OF the question involved. It
only proposes the settlement of the
claims of private individuals of each
nation, while proper treaty on the
subject should consider the insult and
injury to our national sovereignty. No
mere payment for ships destroyed could
settle the matter. American commerce
had been driven from the sea. The
dangers from English pirates and con-
sequent Increased rates of Insurance
had changed the trade from American
bottoms to English or those of neutral
nations; our ships had rotted at their
wharves; our ship.yards had been idle,
and trade in all its branches had felt
the effect Of England's action. The loss
to the shipping interest alone was over
one hundred millions. Hopes of recog.
milton had encouraged the rebels to
prolong their contest, and the cost In
treasure and life was equal to the debt
of England.
The Senator then discussed the sub.
ject of belligerent rights at length. He
held that the first great wrong of Eng
land was in her haste to recognize the
rebels both on land and sea; that the
only claim she could set upto recogniZ.
I'LL 49,
course was the sharp point that we had
blockaded the rebel ports instead of
closing them by proclamation. He ar
gued with great force against this posi-
tion, and drew the conclusion from all
his arguments that England had no
shadow OF excuse for her course, and he
expressed the hope that the Senate
would reject it unanimously.
AS soon as Mr.. Sumner closed, Mr..
Chandler moved to open the doors and
debate the treaty at length. In this he
was supported by Mr.. Morton and 9TH
ers. The Senate, however, decided by
a large majority not to do this, but
deemed Summers speech OF SO much
national moment and interest as to re-
move the Injunction ofsecrecy so far as
it was concerned, and allow him to send
1t to the press. This he has done by
mail through the associated press to-
night.
Messrs. Scott, Casserly, Chandler,
Thurman, Fessenden, Howard, War
ner and Davis made brief remarks,
most of them being of the nature of
compliment to Mr., Sumner, or assent to
his views. All were agreed as to the
grave nature of the question; only Mr..
Chandler made a warlike demOnstra-
ton. He did not believe there was
room enough on this continent for any
nation which had insulted our own. He
ar
Canada would soon come, and he now
believed 1t would come in his day.
Mr.. Davis wanted the matter to go
over one day, to take into special con-
the degree of justification for
recognizing the rebels England had
In our own treating them as belllger-
ents.
Senator Warner made a short speech.
a good deal of attention. He
said the Senate should act in the mat
ter, not in heat, not in excitement, not
with flourish of trumpets, but coolIy,
solemnly, and that mas
terly statement by the Senator from
and reaching the con-
sequences of England's action, showed
how impossible il was to- state the
damages to the United States and to civ
iliZatiOn in an account current, to De
balanced by dollars. He would not al
low her to condone for this great wrong
DY phYlucnl Vi n AIGAAC lNAAAJ bC4A. -
she could afford to go down to history
as an alder of rebellion in the inter
est of human slavery, we could afford
to loose the few millions which she
might agree to give us in settlement.
He would have US maintain our great
vantage ground as a guarantee of future
instice and peace. He thought that,
despite England's aid to the rebellion,
we achieved the greatest triumph for
liberty and Christian civilization to be
fonnd in the annals of the race, and
could afford to be content. In TRUTH
there could be no settlement of this
question made; il never was possible.
We might forgive Great Britain Tor the
wrong done us, and she might apollo"
Rize, but she could never pay for 1t in
gold. Instead of advising and consent
ing to this treaty, he would advise the
President to Withdraw all propositions
for settlement. In such action there
would be a suggestion OF national dig
nitv and strength and reserved rights
which could not fail to exercise a
healthy influence on the mind OF the
British nation and of the world.
The vote upon the rejection OF the
treaty stood fifty.three for rejection to
one, McCreery, against. Nearly all the
Senators conourred heartily in Mr..
Summers position that a treaty upon
this subject should rise to the full dig
nifty and importance of the information
al questions involved, and that the ma
tion with due regard to its honor could
not consider the matter upon any lower