Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-05-20
yv..ninsssn osrrsspsnaence.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
WASHINGTON, May II.

| ALABAMA CLAIMS.
WASHINGTON, May II.
Editors Herald The ill feeling mani
tested in England relative to the Alabama
claims and Mr.. Summers speech thereon,
should surprise no one on this side the
water Nothing less than this could have
been expected. It is but natural that
such thorough and forcible presentation
of the American side of the question as is
afforded by that speech should move them,
somewhat They find that the main posi-
tions taken in it are incontrovertible
Were they but strong in the right if
their cause were just in the eyes of the
world and in their own estimation, we
should find them as bland and as COM
PLEASANT in their behavior towards us, and
as mild in their answers to, or comments
upon, our demands for redress-if we
made such demands-as any one could
wish. But they know, and realize fully
being manifestly and palpably in the
wrong; and as the speech of Senator
Sumner is so effectual in showing them
up in this their true position, what wonder
if it cause some excitement and much in
dignation and anger among them? They
had hoped to have this Ito them) vexed
question disposed of upon Clarendon
Johnsonian terms and they are disap-
pointed and angry at waking up and find
ing that our government and people do
not, after all, intend to accept, in settle
ment, anything very much short of what
it is their right to demand.
Nor need it surprise us to find that two
or three public journals in England,
which were friendly to the cause of onr
Union during the war, have become, as
they term it. purely English now, and
have taken sides against us on this ques-
ton. The pressure - the English "
pressure-undoubted is so strong just
now, that they cannot well avoid taking the
English" view and English ground-just
as some union journals in the South were
constrained at last to join the cause of our
enemies there. Our government prob
ably will neither be frightened. surprised
nor disappointed at the apparent unanim-
ity of sentiment in England just now
against us; nor regard this hostility as in
any manner calculated to weaken a just
cause
Nor will any kilograms, such as we
have from London recently, about
alliances offensive and defensive between
England, France and Spain against the
United States, be likely to move them or
the American people to the relinquish-
ment of a just claim. 1t will be time
enough to talk of an alliance on our part
when it shall appear that such a thing is
desirable.
Your correspondent, for one, does not
feel disposed by any means to treat this
alliance report from Europe lightly,
and as having no foundation, in fact.
This Alabama matter is a serious and very
important one to England. Napoleon
hates us, and it would not be very hard
matter, in the present state of affairs par
ticularly, to win over poor old Spain to
an alliance against u.s. Immediate war is |
not to be looked for, perhaps, in any
event. But it may be expected at least
that strenuous efforts will be made in one
way or another, to bully or drive us from
our position, IF the word opposition" is
e!allowable) or in some way to bring
about settlement, which shall be less ia
vorable and advantageous than it should
be to the government and people of the
United States. |, for one, regard ii as not
altogether improbable that an alliance,
such as we are now threatened with, will
be formed.
All thero Ia for ns to do for the present,
according to present appearances at least,
5 to stand in our place. and hold fast to
and do that which England can
lot so well afford to do, namely, aoaH
John Bull, taking advantage of our
lire extremity, wronged us deeply, and
when expostulated with, treated the mat
er very cody. Now our turn to take
Kings cool is coming, and though be may
orag, and buster and threaten, and even
70 farther, and do his worst, he will yet
lave to face the music, and in some way
md Mt some time make due roparation
"Eor time at last sets all things even.
And II we do but wait the hour,
here never yet was human power
That could eyade, If unforgyen,
The patient search and vigil long
OF hun who treasures up a wrong"
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