The national Republican., 1869-01-30
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The country already know that something
has been agreed upon between Mr.. Reverdy
johnson, our Minister at the Court OF st.
James, and Lord Clarendon, the British For
elgn Secretary, and that something In the
form OF a protocol or treaty Is now before the
United States Senate.
Mr.. johnson may think after the delivery
OF his numerous after dinner speeches, full
OF buncombe and unmeaning generalities as
they are, and these addresses have been made
before all sorts Of people on all sorts Of ocea.
sions, and all Of them to the disgust and
ehaErin Of a large majority Of his country
men-we say he may think that he has accom-
plished great work
The people Of this country do not see It In
that light, and We are quite confident that the
United States Senate will see 1t precisely In
the same light as the people do.
Mr.. sumner, than whom more learned and
able international lawyer cannot be found In
any country to-day, will, we trust, expose this
iniquitous scheme which has been Tesorted to
on the part OF the English Ministry to wheedle
US out OF our Just dues; and sorry we are to
say It, they have found in Mr.. Reverdy John
son q ready and plant tool to carry out their
purposes.
Let US look at the pending questions be-
tween the two countries as they will be pre-
seuted from the English standpoint, provided
we attempt settlement upon the basis Of the
treaty now before the Senate. II any one
will glance over the English newspapers, or
Inquire OF American travellers who have, while
abroad, come In contact with the British peo-
pie, he will soon be convinced In regard to the
temper and spirit OF all classes In Britain upon
the subject matter now In controversy.
II is asserted on the other side OF the Allan.
tic in the most emphatic yet nonchdidnt man.
ner, that the United States can have no valid
claim against the British Government grow
Ing out Of the depredations of the pirate ship
Alabama. 1t is held by them that the South.
srn Confederacy was recognized State, with
all the rights OF other States, and that our
Government treated with the Confederaey as
such during the war. 1t is moreover asserted
that as we conquered the South and held the IN
sS-f-s'NH 'eTiItOIy, "u mus IueIGIVTe, Uy Iue
laws OF nations, become liable for the debts OF
that country,
Upon this ground the Alabama question Is
admitted for adjustment to be Offset by claims
trumpet up in the interests OF Great Britain
and the Queens subjects.
Hence they will file a bill for our lIabilitles
as follows; We shall be called upon to pay
for all the English ships captured and
destroyed while engaged In runlng the block,
ade. So also for the cotton and tobacco that
was eonnseated or destroyed during the war,
or at least so much Of 1t as 1t Is alleged be
long to British subjects. Much Of this, IL 4,
claimed, was bought and paid for by English.
men, and 1t was therefore their personal prop.
erty. We shall also And in the bill OF psrtic.
uiars, presented by John Bull demand that
we pay the rebel bonds held by EnKlIahmeu
and such others trumped up claims against US
as the fertile brain and overreachiDs and bully.
Ing propensities OF our EnglIsh cousins can
conjure up.
We may add, IN this connection, that the
public sentiment OF all Europe will be found
on the side OF Great Britain and against US.
At any rate, we have good reason to believe
that those parties who might be chosen as
umpires In case OF Engagement would be
more like to lean towards Engla nd than
towards US In the adjustment. The ground
upon which such umpires are to be selected Is
an absurdity. In every instance we might
have, from what we know OF the past, good
reason to dread the power OF British gold.
So much for the situation, az presented by the
johnson and Clarendon programme.
And what the n-when the Senate reject this
offspring OF the laundering diplomacy Of our
Minister at the Court of Queen Victoria I
Why just this, and nothing more; Let US make
out our bill for the depredatlons OF the Ala.
bama, and present 1t for payment, and dema nd
that 1t be done at once. We must have no mere
blusteri no silly diplomacy OF the Johnsonian
types but arm and steady purpose to collect
what Is Justly our due. 1t is said 10 some OF
the papers that General Grant Is opposed to
this treaty, patched up by johnson and Claren-
don. We do not doubt that he is, and so is
every other true American. Let the United
states Senate, therefore, make short work of
this matter.