The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-16
Stock Quotations by TeIegrnph-1 p. nj.
Glendinning, Davis & Co. report through their New
REVERDY JOHNSON.
What he Says of Belligcrent Rights-His Views
During the Days of the Old Administration
and Nayy

What he Says of Belligcrent Rights-His Views
During the Days of the Old Administration
and Now.
Says Washington special to the New York
despatch from Reverdy johnson, dated London.
18th Of February 1863 defending his treaty was re-
ceiyed at the State Department on the Sd OF March,
the very last day OF the old administration It was
read by Mr.. Seward and Andrew johnson, and
actually communicated to the Senate in the hurried
moments Immediately before the close of the session
In the course OF this despatch Mr.. Reyerdy John
son describes what he call "the alleged unau-
thorlzed recognition OF belllgerent rights" as
one OF the two questions which the United States
have from the first insisted should be submitted
Mr. Reverdy johnson, in an interview with your cor
respondent few days ago, said that Mr. Summers
speedAaEas absurd and his propositions ridiculons
lie was particularly severe on the theories of Mr.
cession but the following extract from the despatch
above alluded to, and which now sees the light for
the first time, shows that Mr.. johnson then occupied
the Identical position now maintained by Mr.. Sum-
ner. Mr.. johnson wrote as folloWs:-
The history OF the world furnishes no instance OF
so speedy recognition in the case OF revolutionary
efforts to subyert an existing Government AZ the
time II was made the insurgents had no DOrt within
which to build ship OF war; large or small or the
power TO get her out II she built; nor had they
any port to which they could carry any ship that
they might capture as prize of war for condemna-
tlon IN q Court OF Admiralty. AS war measure,
resorted TO simply for the purpose of suppressing
the nsurrection, and with no view to
lmpart national character to the Insurgents the
PRESIDENT of the United States declared certain
ports under the physical control of the Insurgents To
bS,,na state oI IlOckade and, TO prevent the in
humanity OF the Strengthening OF prisOners he
agreed IRON time to time to exchange But in this
a%gain % without the slightest view OF ADMITTING the
the nSiact az as possessing any legal rights whatever
the Phai OI Vhe blockade being the repression OF
h, hiS ~, mepeh3n, ana that being apparent from the
history OF the hour this Government mnst have @
knowa tnat we We're far from according to- them
any hatlohal existence Supposing, then that the
PIoclamatpn VI the PRESIDENT was known 10 this
Government when they declared the insmrant M .s m
be belllgerents-a question OF fact which DO not ~
propose to eXamine-t furnished no iustdca to Hos @
the action Of this Government And IN IL @ ioI
justified, as confidently believe was the c"s not not
act is one which bears materially nnon' th the
question whether the Government pis nne Tde
bound TO indemnify the losses occasioned nos h
the Alabama and other vessels For then tboSt bS
vessel and the others could not have been In the
estimation OF English law, as well as the law of ma
tons, pratical vessels. They, never, therefore,
the cargoes belonging to American citizens de-
stroyed by them would have been in safety. Upon
this ground, then independent OF the question of
proper diligence, the obligation OF Great Britain TO
meet the losses seems 10 me TO be most apparent