The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-06-17
ENGLAND AND AMERICA
Senator Grimes Letter to the
London Times.

Senator Grimes Letter to the
London Times.
LONDON, May 10, 1869.
10 the Editor Of the London Times.
SIR: Will you permit an American,
who has read all the articles publish
cd in your columns within tho last
two weeks on American affairs, and
who thinks he has q tolerably correct
Judgment Of the public sentiment of
his country, to assure you
l. That there never has been a
time within the last fifty years when
there was in the United States less
disposition to go to war with any
country, least of all with Great Brit
ain, than there is at the present mo-
mcnt. fa
2. That the Senate of the United
States, by their vote on what is call
cd "the Alabama treaty." simply
agreed to the conclusion 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 argu-
ments by which he supported it.
}. That Mr. Sumner delivered an
elaborate speech on this subject,
which he had been tor weeks pre-
pairing, and from which he desired
the injunction Of secrecy to be re-
moved, o request that is always gran
ted by the Senate. Allother remarks
made OH the occasion were informal
and conversational, and tho speakers
neither felt nor expressed any simi.
lar desire for publicity.
4. That there were various causes
not generally known, and which it is
needless to allude to, that conspired
10 secure the rejection of the treaty,
not the least of which were the un-
wise declarations ofmembcrs of the
British Legation in Washington,
which, coupled with the manner Of
constituting the commission, as agreed
upon in the treaty, gave an appear
anco at least of probable unlairness in
the arbitration.
5. That England's offence in the
eyes of Americans is not s'that she
conceded belligerent rights to the
Confcderacy at timo when the
Southern States had apparently es-
tablished themselves as an independ-
ent power" or that she recognized
their bolligerent rights at any time,
nor that we did not enjoy tho full
sympathy of Lcr citizens during the
rebellion. Their real grievance is
that the Alabama, built and fitted
outln an English port, never ran in
to q Confederate port SO as to acquire
the legal character of Confederate
belligerept, technically or otherwise /;
that she was in truth an English YES
sci, sailing from British port under
the British flag, manned by British
sailors, was everywhere cordially re
ceived, supplied and coaled at British
stations, while such hospitality was
denied to American cruisers that
she never had any other homo than
the port of Liverpool, from which
she originally departed, and remain
cd, in law and conscience, Il British
vessel until she sank beneath the
waves, This is our grievance. All
else 10 the establishment of the ad
vocato and orator.
6. That while IL Is not to be denied
that there is q desire in the North
western States of the Union to see
the British Provinces added to their
government for tho purpose of secu-
ring control of the navigation of the
st. Lawrence River, which drains a
large portion Of their torritory, il is
also true that many Of the Atlantic |
States are opposed to their acquisi-
ton, because they lear that, if aequi-
red, the West viii have uninterrupt-
ed water communication with Eur
opc, without passing through and
being tributary to them. The intelli-
gent people of the West are patiently
biding their time, in the full faith that
whom tho British Government con-
cludos, as they sooner or later will
conclude, that the Provinces arc an
clement of expensive weakness to it,
and that it will no longer support
them, 4hey will be quite as anxious to
join the United States Us their public
men, who almost exclusively enjoy
the bounty bestowed by the home
government, now profess to be IN
willing to do so. There is not u re-
spoetable- minority of any party in
any State in the Union that would
for a moment justify an attompt to
wrest the Canadas by force from the
British Grown.
7. | am net prepared to say what
may bo the specific Instructions with
which Mr., Motley may come to Eng
land; but | am prepared to say that
they will not be other than OF tho
most pacific character 1t should be
borne in mind that under our gov
ernment the Senate is part Of the
treat making power, that tie rejcc-
tion or amendment Of 8 treaty by tho
body is OF frequent occurrence, aud
that such u rejection furnishes no
reason TO the American mind why
efforts at negotiation should not be
renewed again and again. Possibly
Mr., Motley may not be instructed TO
take tho initiative in new treaty,
but that should not be the cause OF
on the part Of any one,
and certainly cannot be tho cause of
war. AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Gct !, Ctaar I,r;i ~. Valoc;,n1t,