Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-29

Now that the public mind has become COM
parati'cly calm in respect toour Alabama claims,
we can the better appreciate the correspondence
on this subject which has just been made public
This correspondence is both interesting and inn
portant, because it places our position and claims
relative 10 the Alabama's deprclations in a very
clear light before the public The tone and spirit
Of Mr. Fi-l's letters, AZ well as the character and
substance Of his arguments, prove him not only
an able statesman, but an accomplished diploma
list. The Secreary's correspondence with the
Spanish authorities also does him great credit,
and has extorted praise from papers hitherto dis
posed TO crticise his official acts with harshncss
The President, too, comes in for liberal share
of credit in the Alabama correspondence, for, we
have no doubt, the arguments and ideas attributed
to linn by his Secretary were actually suggested
by the President. Mr. Fish says
The President recognizes the right Of every powor
and has attained sufficient completely. magnitude and
completeness TO define its own relations and those of It's
citizens and subjects toward the parties the conflict
far their rights and interests are necessarily Affect
cd by the conflict
The necessity and proprety of the original concession
Of bulgorcncy by Grcat Britain the timo made
have been contested. and are not admitted They cor
tanly are questionable but the President regards that
concession part Of the onl far 10 shows the
beginning and tho animus Of that course Of conduct
which resulted disastrously 10 the United States 10
important In that 1t foreshadows subsequent events
There other Powers that were c0ntempomncous
with England in similar concessions but Il was In Eng
land 1Hfp that the concession sHppifmfnd hy acts
causing direct damage 10 The United States.
beca1se he is anxious, much possible. 10 simplify
the case and 10 bring into view those subsequent ac
which important "a determining the question be-
tween the two countries.
The discrimination made BIZ the President
against England does " simplify the case, and
shows very clearly why the press and people of
this country have cast 80 much moro Of censure
upon England than upon France, Spain md other
Powers, in respect to the concession of heligrrent
rights TO the rebels.
The damages resulting to the commerce Of the
United States in consequence Of the acts by which
Great Britain supplemented ~ her concession
Of belligerency, are very clearly set forth by Sec
Rotary Fish.
The number Of our ships destroyed amounted
to nearly two hundred, and the value Of property
destroyed 10 many millions, the rate Of insurance
was greatly increased, exports and imports dimin-
shed, and domestic industry und production
otherwise seriously obstructcd; while most Of the
immense foreign commerce Of the United States
was taken away from Us and transferred to the
merchant vessels Of Great Britain. And this we
mot Mr.. Fish's letters) say, was probably part
Of England object in giving aid and comfort to
the Southern Rebellion.
In 1860 the foreign merchant tonnage of the
United States amounted to 25I6,237 tons in
1866, II sank to 1872 1923 tons. This dcprccia-
ton caused a corresponding increase, during the
period, to the tonnage of Great Britain. TO the
amount Of l,l2O,6 $50 tons, and the amount Of
commerce transferred from the United States to
Britain during the same period was in -tiil great
er proportion. Iu short, Mr.. Fish adopts Mr.
Cobden's words and declares that, practically.
England carried on war from her own shores
against the United States, and " inflicted an
amount Of damage against that country greater
than would have been produced by many ordi-
nary wars The apathy of England, while nu-
mcrous vessels were being fitted out in her ports
to prey upon our commerce, Dir. Fish very prop
erly, though courteousy, comments upon, and
covers the whole ground in an able and altogether
very creditable manner.
Lord Clarendon, in reply, makes inir point in |
saying that &" Her hlajesty's Government cannot |
make any new proposition, or run the risk of
mother unsuccessful negotiation until they have
Information more clear than that which il con-
aimed in Mr.. fishs dispatch respecting the basis
ipon which the Government Of the United States
would be disposed to negotiate" But, we pre-
ume, it will be time enough for our Government
0 state its proposition when the representatives
f the two Governments meet 10 settle the diff
ulty and this was no reason why Her Maiesty's
government should make the absence Of dis
met proposition on our part an objection to the
prominent of representatives and place of
leetng for this purpose. We believe, however,
hat LORD Clarendon will be furnished by our
government with " information more clear than
nat contained in Mr., Fish's dispatch respecting
ne basis upon which the United States are dis
osed to negotiate :" and, now that England has
to reopen negotiations upon this sub
'ct, and to transfer the negotiations to Washing
IN, we trust an early and amicabe settlement of
II the pending questions will be effected for
ord Clarendon is kind enough to say that his
Government will be ready to cooperate in any
honorable way to effect satisfactory settlement
4 the difficulty between the two countries.