Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-04
PUBLIC LEDGER.
M H M f II -
Friday Evening. June 4. 1883.
LETTER FROM SENATOR GRIMES

30 Friday Evening. June 4. 1859.
LETTER FROM SENATOR GRIMES.
The Senator from Iowa Mr.. Grimes)
wrote a letter on the 18th of last May to
the London Times, which has completely
taken the wind out of Mr.. Sumner
rhetorical speech delivered at the last
session Of Congress on the Alabama
Treaty. 1t seems, from reading this let
ter as published in the Times, that the
treaty was not rejected BY the Senate for
the reasons set forth in the grand and
eloouent defamation of Sumner, but
for other considerations which at
the time weighed with that body in
making up their decision. This letter,
republished below, will fully explain the
Ssnate's action, and the appearance OF
which in England has tended much to
aiIay excitement with the press and peo-
pie. 1t was thought by our cousins ever
the water that Summers CID coneh-shsll
was the bugle blast of war, and nothing
short of dishonor and humiliation on the
part of Her Majesiy's government
would prevent SO dire a calamity.
Sumner, to make little temporary
notoriety, requested the Senate to
be allowed the privilege of publishing
his speech SO carefully prepared.
The proceedings Of the executive session
Of this body is generally secret, and as
there was nothing but this famous speech
to Judge from, the public at once con-
cJuded that the Senate was governed by
the reasons therein set forth for its ac-
ton in rejecting the treaty. But Grimes,
that good old man, comes along and with
one or two home TRUSTS succeeds in let
ting the wind out at once of Mr.. Sum-
ner's airy reputation, and it falls in
collapsed state. We understand that the
Massachusetts Senator is in "a disagreea-
BILE frame of mind in consequence OF the
publication OF this letter, which reads as
follows:
EpIroR TIMEs-S ::eWill you permit
an American, who has read all the ar
ticles published in your columns, within
the last two weeks on American affairs.
aud who thinks he has 8 tolerably correct
Judgment OF the public sentiment OF his
country to assure you
|. That there never has been time
within the last fifty years when there was
IN the United States less of disposition
TO 20 10 war with any country, least OF
all with Great Britain, than there is at
The present moment.
2 Thatihe Senate Of the United States,
by their vote on what is called the Ala
bama Treaty" simply agreed to the con
clusiou at which Mr.. Sumner arrived in
his speech in the executive session OF
that body, and not to the processes BY
which he reached that conclusion or the
arguments by which he supported it.
3, That Mr.. Sumner delivered an elsb-
crate speech on this uljec,, which he
had been for weeks preparing, and from
which he desired the Injunction Of Sc
crecy to be removed, a request that is
always granted by the Senate. All other
remarks made on the occasion were ia
formal and conversational, and the speak
ers neither felt nor expressed any similar
desire for publicity.
a. That there were various causes not
generally known, and which it is needless
20 aIlude to, that conspired TO secure the
rejection of the treaty, not the least Of
which were the unwise declarations Of
members Of the British Legation in Wash
ington, which, coupled with the manner
of constituting the commission, as agreed
npon in the treaty. gave an appearance
at least of probable Rniairnsss IN the ar
bitrstion.
s. That England's ofiense in the eyes
Of Americans is not that she conceded
belligerent rights to the Confedersey at
time when the Southern States had ap-
psrently established themselves as an
independent power" nor that she recog-
nized their belligerent rights at any time,
nor that we did not enjoy the full sym
patty of her citizens during the rebel
lion. Their real grievance is that the
Alabama, built and fitted out in an Eng
lish pert, never ran into Confederate
port, so as to acquire the legal character
Of Confederate belligereni, technically
or otherwise; that she was in truth an
English vessel, sailing from British
bort under a British flag. manned by
British sailors, was everywhere cordially
received, supplied and coaled at British
stations, while such hospitality was de-
nied TO American cruisers; that she
never had any other home than the port
of Liverpool, from whence she originally
departed, and remained, in Law aud con-
science, a British vessel until she sank
beneath the waves. This is our griev-
ance. All else is the establishment Of
the advocate and the orator.
6. That while il is not to be denied that
there is q desire in the Northwestern
States OF the Union ts see the British
provinces added to the Government for
the purpose Of securing control of the
navigation Of the ST. Lawrence river,
which drains large portion Of their
territory, it is also true that many Of the
Atlantic S,atee are opposed to the acqui-
sition, because they fear that II acquired
the West viii have uninterrupted water
communication with Europe, without
passing Through and being tributary 10
them. The intelligent people Of the
West are patiently hiding their time in
the full faith that when the British Gov
eminent concludes, Sc It sooner or later
will Conclude. that the provinces are an
element OF expensive weakness TO Il, and
q. iii f~rao~ nr.nrf Than fknH