The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-27
The Alabama Claims Pssso6el.

There is combination of feols and scound-
rels in this country. who are determined, II
they can, 70 egg this nation into . Var with
Great Britain, and as there 10 no WY Of de-
fsating this fslonious intention except an ap-
peal to the people, that appeal cannot be made
too soon. Az to whether this Johnson-stan-
ley protocol ought to be rejected or net, on
tn. ground that there is admitted int it
right on the part of Great Britain to prosecute
before an arbitrator claims against this ceun-
try, We do nat know, because the johnson
Stanley correspondence has notbesn published,
and we do not, therefore, know what Tie nature
Of those claims is. But it is bad show Of
honesty, that the protocol is to be rejected
without that correspondence being published.
As to the alleged grounds Of rejection, the
country is fully advised by means of the
Adams Russell correspondence on this subject.
That correspondence brought to light this
state of facts: That the Alabama was built i.
British port, with confederate money, under
confederate contract; that she was equipped
in British pert, with all except her arma.
ment that she left where she was constructed
under the British flag, and with British
crew; and that she exchanged her flag and
crew, in mid ocean, for confederate flag and
crew, and at the same time received on board
the armament with which she proceeded in
her work of destruction to the commerce Of
the United States; that, during the course Of
her construction, her real character and desti-
nation were repeatedly pointed out to the Brit
ish Government by the American Minister; and
that the reply Of the British Government was,
that, upon searching their laws, they could
find no authority for arresting the msditated
career of the Alabama. Mr.. Adams minated,
perhaps advisedly and perhaps not, that it
looked a. though there was some connivsnce
on the part Of the British authorities With the
proceedings Of the Alabama. This intimatisn
was repealed with great indignation by Lord
Russell, and the correspondence closed with
an intimstion on the part of Lord Russell that
the only, or at any rate, the principal ques-
ton to be discussed was, whether Great Brit
ain was responsible for not having provided
laws sufficient to meet the exigencies of the
Alabama case. but that, a. to the question Of
her good faith, it was one which Great Britain
would not arbtrate or even admit int the
discussion ct all.
The johnson Stanley negotiations were
taken up at that point, and quickly resulted
in the protocol by which Great Britain admit
ted her liability to pay, and her Willingness TO
pay, for all the damage done by the Alabama
to our commerce; and the amount of thu.
damage she agreed to refer to an arbitrator
mutually chosen and agreed upon. Great
Britain, therefore, admits she has done us an
injury--not malicious and Intentional, - she
insists,--but involuntary and unavoidable,
and she is willing to pay tor it. What more
do We insist upon by rejecting the protocsli 4
Il ID this: That we win ran Il down the
Englishman's throat that he has acted per
fidiously towards "; that he is lying when
he says he did not wish to injurs Us; that We
willnot accept repsrstion for the injury We have
received, but will take vengeance On him for
it at all events Are the men who talk in this
way fools, and, If net, what are theys
There is another set Of fellows who insist
that the difficulty shall net be settled at al
that we shall wait till Great Britain gets into
difficulty, and then lot loose our ships y prey
upon her commerce, - they say she has upon
ours. What care these scoundrels that BY
such proceedings We make the whole world
our enemies. and confess ourselves felons as
we'll rs fools So that they are! enriched by
carnage contracts and plumber, what care
they for the blood we must shed, or the DIS
honor we must suffer- 1t is very possible the
treaty ought to be rejected on the ground that
claims against US by Great Britain are admit
ted to arbitration that ought not to be, and If
rejected on that ground, it still leaves the
door open for An smicable and honorable ad-
iustment Of the Alabama claims question.
But if rejected on the other ground, the only
alternatives are dishonorabls and ielonious
war, or an ignominious backing down. This
thing needs watching. This spread eagle
diplomacy got US into scrape in the "fifty-
four forty or fight business, and again in
the Trent affair. Let il not be repeated
ANOTHER INSANE MURDERER.---A lev
months ago Mr.. Aregood farmer in Cook
Co, had in his employ man named Vie. The
A "a u. ~x1ns A~xle Al - No.,