New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-09
HE EXPLAINS AND DEFENDS HIS COURSE AS
MINISTER ..

he E%N' A<AAN0 AM TENDS hlo COURSE AS
MINISTER. ....
Reverdy JohnsOn's labored defense TO Score.
tary Seward, dated Feb IT, aud sent privately TO the
Senate the 30 Of March, goes over the whole course OF
his ministry, and closely details and defends
his action all particulars Tho public are
familiar with tile main points OF negotia-
tion their progress and results Mr. johnson claims 20
have moved strictly within his instructions though the
tendency prorude his Opilions beyond those of
his Government Is manifest almost every sentence;
indeed his explanation begins in defense and ends In
argument. It Is WELL however TO quote his summing up:
have thus, at length than you may deem neees.
them having been exhausted in your dispatches TO Mr.
but nave deemed II due To myself ana 20 You That
should place upon record my own views relating to each
OF the subjects Of the several treaties have nego dted
! have done this with no view TO my own
Justification, for this is to BIO found IN your
am glad TO know, TO the satisfaction OF the
President and yourself hear that In some quar-
which not prepared First IL is said, am fold,
that the claims to be submitted should not DO all that
provision Is made the submission Of any losses which
our Government such may have sustained by the re-
dat0ns upon our commerce Icy the Alabama and other
vessels In regard 70 the first. do not upon what
portuny Of having their claims upon this Government
adjusted by means of the commission, whatever may
yiOusy had that opportunity understand that there
are sSSn claims ana some 0i dpe e ~ S t
class OF claimants 1t is most desirable that all claims,
without regard to their date should be settled by means
OF tine convention as otherwise they may DC tue sects
OF controversy hereafter As regards the second oec
ton, am at loss TO imagine what would be the meas
nre Of me damage Which u supp9ses our G9ter1meRt
sao1a % dt fTT Go HON. IS n 10 ea Dc
uredf nations honor have COM
pensation in money, and the depredatons OF the Ala
peeaay be 3 SR
prevented the sending forth of commercial enter
prises. the twOfold First. that II they had
been sent forth the nation would have direct Interest
such would have been undertaken. Upon what ground
therefore, could the nation demand compensation In
either account, and II IL was received Is 1t togo
into the Treasury for the use OF the Government or
to be distributed those who have engaged In
such enterprises and how many of them are there and
how they to be ascertaned France recognized the
insurgents begerents and this may have tended to
prolong the This, It be said, violation
OF her duty, and affected our honor. II claim III
gland, weean equally claim 1t Of France and who has
gestcd such claim that But the hnal and conclusive
these objections this First that at time
during the while the Alabama and her sister ships
since branch Of the Government proposed 70 hold her
Majesty Government responsible except TO the value or
the property destroyed and that which would have
suited from the completion of the voyages in which they
engaged. The Government exacted anything
It's account IL acted only the guardian and
protector or It's own cIens ana therefore only required
that the Government should pay their losses agree
submit the question Of its liability friendly arbra
ment To demand more now, and particularly TO make
demand to which limit well be assigned would DO
entire departure from our previous course and would
sure, not be listened 10 by this Government or
cOuntenaneed by other nations. We have obtained, by
the Convention IN question, all that we nave ever asked
and with perfect opportunity OF knowing what the sent
of this Government aud people is am satisfied
that nothing be accomplished; and am equally
dollar due what known the Alabama claims will
be recovered. OBJ.