The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-05-29
Mr. sumners speeeh.

ton, delivered in the senate April l.
Nr. Pre-ideu;, in cDucllding the-c remarks,
desire O. -ay that ] am d. volunteer. Tor ever
year. ! have carefully avoided saying ~aLyrlIr.
on thi- met irritating question, beng
that negotiations should De- LEFT ur-i fl ri r
secure a settlement. which could - a.s.-ri D.,
n deeply injured nation. Tie suh4. 90 .. o.
lending treaty O. tie judgment % the ct
me ~ alternative Il icclme my duty o. con.
-Iier 90 carefully IT. Committee. and - review On.
whole subject. II / failed o find what we had q
right o. expect. and. u tie Just claims IF OuI
country a--.EcI unexpected proportions. 10 wa.
not LeCau-@ I wJuli bear hard on England. bat
hesstu-- ! wish ur-t sincerely % remove ali posi-
bIiity u strife between our two cuUutrie-. and ID
j. evident cha; this cIn De done only by first 49,
certainiHg the nature and extent u: difference.
IN thi- -ririt | have spoken to-day. IL tie ci-e
against England = -trJHE. and 1t our claims are
unprecedented in magnitude. IL j. only because
the olndGst &c tLi- Power NJ q trying period was
my-t unirrndiy. and the injurious consequences
Of this conduct were on q scale corresponding 20
the theatre Of action. Life and property were
both swsllOWed up, leaving behind g deeI-seaicd
sense II enormous wrong a. vet Uuat0Eed and
even acknowledged which - one II the chief
factors IN tire problem now Presented 10 the
statesmen 81 both Countries. The attempt 10
close this great international debate without 4
complete settlement i little short Of puerile.
18th the laIse Of time and with minuter cOnsid-
Grafton the case against England becomes more
grave. MT only from the questions Of intcrna-
tiOnai responsibility which II involves, but from
better comprehensive Of the damages which are
secu now ~ their true PROPORTIONS. During tie
war and for some time thereafter u was imVJ>>i-
be % state chem. TIE mass OF q mountain can
not BE- measured AZ it. base. Tie observer must
occupy q certain distance. and this rule Of per-
-YertIyc j. Justly applicable t. damages which
are vast beyond precedent. y few dates Will
show the Frl-sc-- Of tie controversy and how the
ease enlarged. Going o. lar back ~ Goth No
yember- l~J2. We mi our Minister IN London,
Adams. calling for redress from tie British Gov
eminent on account Of tire itrtraHG. This was
the mild beginning. On tire 23I October, 1853.
~ another communication the same Minister sug-
gc<tci O. tLc British Government ..uuy fair and
equitable form # arhiuameut or reference"
Ihs- Proposition sllubcred IN the British Foreign
OEec for nearly two years. during which tie
iiattg4G Wa pursuing heT Tiratical career, when.
on &Oth August. lsJj, il was awakened by Lord
Russell, only @ be knocked down in these words.
lin Your letter Of October %. 1868. You were
Pleased o. say that the Government Of the United
states = ready O. agree u any form Of arbitra-
..Iier Maie-ty-s Government
must, therefore, decline either u make rcTarl-
and compensation for tie captures made by
the Aig5aD1a, OF 10 refer the question to any
foreign State"
Sueh waz our repulsc from England, having at
least the merit Il iHnkucSs. If nothing else. On
18th October, 1865, our Minister informed Lord
aAI0"NsA sAA4a haA~ GnAteA4 GlAttF lhAtA AAA44AF lt-V4ffl
10 make no effort for arbitration. Again the
question slunbered until 9th August.
1906. when Seward presented Il list of Individual
claims ON account OF the pirate Alabama. From
that time negotiation has continued with ups and
lOwns, until az last the peudiny treaty. was
Had the early O%ycrturDs Of our Govern
nent been promptly accepted, or had there been
70 any time a just recognition Of the wrong done,
doubt not that this question would have been
'ettled; but the rejection Of our very moderate
propositions and the protractcd delay, which az
.OTdet an opportunity TO review the case in its
iiherent bearings, have awakened the people 10
the magnitude II the interests involved. II our
demands are larger now than at our first call. IL
: not the only time in history where such a rise
las occurred The story Of the Sibyl i repeated,
md England i the Roman King. Shall these
be liquidated and Cancelled promptly. or
illOwed u slunber until called into activity by
ONE future exiScncy? There are many among
y who, taking counsel of e sense Of national
wrong, would leave them to rest without settle
ncnt, 20 a. 20 furnish n precedent for retaliation
II kind, should England find herself at war.
There are many in England who, taking counsel
+ a Teryerse Political bigotry, have spurned
hem absolutely; and there are others who, in
Oking the point Of honor, assert that England
annOt entertain them without compromising
Ter honor. Thus there is peril from both sides.
I Is not difficult 10 imagine one OF our country
nen saying with Shakespearc's jew, .The VII
Amy You teach me / will execute. and it shall 20
ard, but | viii better the instruction; " nor Is
t difficult to imagine an En~slishman firm in his
Oucclt, that no apology can be made and moth
NJ paid. / cannot sympathizc with either side.
&c the claims more OF less, they are honestly pre-
ented, with the conviction that they arc Just,
nd they should be considered candidly, so that
hey shall 10 longer lower like a cloud ready 10
urst upon two nations, which, according to
inclination, can do each other such infinite
l,uFy or sIcn infinite good. / know it is some
aid rl4f tV9r f.fxveeu M mr.. e.ruc Eucper
later | do not believe it.. But d: ii must
Dmc, let II cpInc later. and then | au -u-e it
ill never CONF. Meanwhile GOOD men must
mite to make II iuiI-,,>iLlc.
A@iin, / say this debate Is not of my seeking.
J. not tempting, for IL cOmUels criticism Of n
reign Power with which I would have more
nan peace, more even than concord. But it can
Ot be avoided. The truth must be told, not in
nger, but in sadness. England has done t. the
nlted States an injury most difficult % measure.
Onsidcring when 1t was done and in what COM
LEFTY, II l. most unaccOuntable. At a great
pOch Of history, 10 lees mOmenJOus than that Of
nc French revolution or that Of the Reformation,
hen civilization was fighting q last battle with
avery, England gave her name, her influence,
CT material resources to the wicked cause. and
ing n sword into the scale with slavery. Here
as a pOrtcntOus mistake. Strange that the land
" HbcrfJrcc. after spending millions for eman-
.patiDn, after prOclaimiug everywhere the truths
liberty and ascending % glorious Trinacy in
nc sublime movements for the universal abOli-
ON Of slavery, could 10 this thing, Like every
sparturc from the rule Of justice and good
eIghbOrhoOd, her conduct was pcrnicious in pro-
ortiOn to tie scale Of operations, affecting in
iyiduals, corporations. communities. and the ma
ON itself. And vet down 70 this day there Is no
acknowledgement Of this wrong-nOt n single
ord Such n generous expression would be tire
Of a just settlement, and the best a.
france Of that harmony between two great and
inbred nations which all must desire.
AND MEDICINES.