The New York herald., 1869-05-10
TEE ENGLISH LEGATION AND THE ALABAMA
TREATY.
senator summers Organ ON the s

Senator summers Organ on the Subject.
Washington Correspondence (May 81 Of the Boston
Advertser.l
The rejection OF the Alabama claims treaty could
not have been surprise TO the English Minister.
Mr.. Thornton knew that the Committee on Foreign
Relations had all but unanimously reported against
It's ratification and well enough understood that the
report sustained by the general Judgment OF our
people. The unanimity with which 1t was rejected
must have been an event on whichhe had not calcu-
lated, for the shrewdest and most sanguine OF our
observers could hardly have surmised that there
would be but one vote IN its favor.
believe that Mr.. Thornton keeps his own counsel
as becomes trained diplomat. lie is a gentleman
by nature as well as by culture and therefore speaks
with reserve and moderation on such topic as
this But II cannot give you his views directly l
can present those OF the English Legation, which,
In this case at least probably amount to the same
thing.
Our way OF doing things is q puzzle to the mem.
bers OF the Legation. They see us buy Alaska
which, nobody wants, and ratify the treaty. with
:he dissenting votes only OF Mr.. Fessenden and Mr.
Ferry. Then they see us buy st. Thomas which
good many persons believe to be valuable ac-
QUESTION, and neglect TO act upon the treaty
senate ratify the Alaska treaty all but unan-
imousy, and then see the House in a
Of appropriating the money to carry It into effect.
They learn that the Alaska treaty was carried on the
argument that II would be breach OF good faithto
reject H. and then find large part Of the Senate and
considerable proportion OF our people deaf to this
argument when used In connection with the ST.
Thomas treaty ! happen to know that there has
been deal OF this sort OF talk In the Legation the
past winter and one OF its members put the points
with much force in long conversation only three or
four days ago. "Now tell me,n he said In concu-
sion, 'who among these Americans has the treaty
making powerf Is II the President or the Senate
or the Houseeither one, either two or all three '
The Legation point to the fact that Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson was unanimously confirmed a. Minister to
their country with the general understanding that
effort would be made during his term of ONCE to
close up the Alabama claims business IL ia further
pointed out that the press Of the country admitted
his 1nes TO deal with the work; that considerable
nf had
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Seward had claimed; that there
was every reason for supposing we would be satis-
Seward nf bs ana a Mr. eas on tse
were treated by everybody with contempt aud ridi-
cule.
one Of the gentlemen near the Minister puts Il in
something like tins way:-"We gave you all you
asked: we conceded all that Mr.. Adams ever claim.
ed we finally signed treaty entirely satisfactory
TO your Mr.. Johnson and your Mr.. Seward your
secretary Of State from the beginning OF the war
and your Minister to whom the senator's all agreed;
we do that, and then you turn round and Lick the
treaty out Of doors Pray tell me what are we to to
DOR am merely saying how these English dIplo-
mats 90 look at the matter mot saying how they
should look at H. II understand them. they are a
little confused by our way OF dong things; they
seem reasonably willing to consider our case, but
say they cannot clearly see what our Is and by
whom " ~ represented.
They charge US with lack OF fair dealing. Our
demands to-day, they allege, are Immensely greater
menber OF the Legation butsa frequent visitor there
anu genuine Engllshtnan, says TO me:--''I read
yovn New ioIk papers anu ma one view IN the
ntoWe, another view In the Times, and another
view IN the HERALD, all OF which profess TO be
,.IenuIy 70 General Grants Administrations read
MT summers speech and md him taking one view
VI penRcrency, aud then the Nation, your ablest
weekiy journal, and ind that taking another view;
ea % Synasor ,nandlers's speech, and what OF
your NnlcaRo tribune editors and good many other
persons say ABOUT Canada and when I'm done with it
al, AK myself. What is Il these people wantr
see piainy bos want good deal more than you did
Wnle ago. out can't make out lust where you
stanun M Ana one Of the persons In the Legation am
told says, ''Mr. summers speech il vague and not
specific but n we were TO put It's hints into treaty
would that satisfy the United Statesy How can we
give them what they ask when they All ssk some.
,r; ,n1ng aiierentr TIE idea appears to be that
ueay 'naue Dy mi. Motiey might be rejected just
Reverdy Johnson's has been. And when II was said
tnat Mr. Motley representative OF the administra-
ION answer was made that no one objected TO Mr..
J0hns0n's appointment, and 1--WE gave him Ali vou
nad been asking Tor through Mr.. Adams and Mr..
There ls still another point made against us in the
talk OF the Legation. They call attention 10 the fact
that the three treaties negotiated by Reyerdy John