The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-05-19
Summers Speech and the Alabama
Claims.

No speech made during the recent sessions
of Congress has created such a sensation In
America as that of Mr. SUMNER regarding
the johnson Clarendon treaty. Nor has the
sensation been confined to America, for
England has been even more excited con-
cerning it than this country. That England
acted mean and most detestable part to-
wards the United States during the rebellion,
is known, not only to herself, but to the
entire world. She wished to see American
commerce destroyed that she might profit
by our loss and regain her naval prestige,
which had been so greatly injured by Ameri-
ca. To this end, while proclaimlng neu-
trality, she connived at the fitting, cut and
sending forth of the Alabama and other YES
sells known to be intended for the rebels, that
our merchant marine might be driven from
the seas. Although our commerce was not
ruined, yet the damage was enormous and
it will be years before our commerce regains
Its former extent and prosperity-unless
England should become involved in conti-
mental war. Should this happen, we shall
gain all that we have lost and much more.
The claims for indemnity for the losses in
fiicted by the Alabama amount to large
sum, but one which could easily be paid,
but the indirect damage inflicted upon our
commerce, and through it upon every
industry of the land is, one which EDglanp
has not wealth enough to compensate US for.
The Johnson Clarendon treaty was made
upon the basis of individual damages, and
was very properly rejected by the Senate, as
the simple payment of individual losses can
never atone for an injury inflicted upon the
entire nation. The bellicose speech of Mr..
SUMNER, about which the press OF the coun-
try has made so much fuss, has in fact no
real bearing upon the Alabama claims, nor
does it in the least indicate the sentiments
of the administration. True the speech has
the Johnson Clarendon treaty for text;
true it breathes forth denuncations, threats
and warnings towards England but really
it is not upon the ALBANIA claims mot upon the
treaty, and finally, not Indicative of any hos
tile course to be pursued by our government.
1t is simply little electioneering dodge
got up by Mr.. SUMNER to render himself
popular among his constituents, the majority
of whom are of class which would greatly
profit by war with England, and who are,
as natural consequence, anxious to have
one. All these fierce denunciations, all these
sinister warnings, all these heroic defiances
of the British lion are simply intended to
place him still 6rmer in the good graces OF
his constituents. Thas the British press
and people should give the threats of Mr..
SUMNER such undue degree of importance
cannot be wondered at when We consider
the Importance which it has been given, and
the bragadocio to which it has given rise in
tins country. Among the leading journals
of the country who have treated the speech
of Mr.. SUMNER in various modes, not one has
treated it for what it really is-an election
eering dodge. The New York Herald gives
it an Importance truly laughable, and which
only renders that journals intense desire for
foreign war still more visible. There is
not paper in the United States which
would profit so largely by a foreign war as
the Herald, for the excellence of its arrange
ments for correspondence is only equalled
by the poorness of its editorials. As
newspaper, it is the best in the country
perhaps in the world; but as a political
Journal or representative of the sentiments
of the American people, it is the poorest.
Hence its great anxiety for war. The other
papers seem to be governed by two entirely
different motives The Democratic papers
are in favor of war, and in hopes, like Mr.
Micawber, that something may turn up"
The condition of their party is so bad that
they think any change must be for the bet
ter. The Republican papers seem to be
We are not, and say to the people, to the
press, and to the world, that Mr.. SUMMERS
speech is all bosh, and that nothing is fur
ther from the wishes of the administration
than a foreign war. AS to MIR. SUMNER, he
had much better take some course of pleas
ing his constituents that will not misreprc-
sent the administration and tend to injure
American industries and finance We hope
the Republican press of the entire country
will have the honesty and courage to show
up the real character of Mr.. SUMMERS speech
and the motives which occasioned it, for 1t
is a duty they owe to their party and to
the American people, J3
The last spike has been driven. The
Union Pacific Railroad and the central
Pacific Railroad Companies, have united.
Thus the greatest work ever commenced by
men, as private enterprise, was completed
yesterday. This is the great work the North