Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-31

duction; and to take away from the U. ).
its immense foreign commerce, and to transfer
this TO the merchant vessels Of Great Britain 80
that while in the year go the foreign merchant
tonnage of the United States amounted to ,, ,546,-
20 tons, IN '66 it had sunk to ,492 ,923 tons
Inls depreciation is represented by a CORES
pondlng increase in the tonnage of GREAT Britain
during the same period, to the amount Of l, ,l20,-
6oO tons, and the amount of commerce abstract
ed from the States and transferred to Great Bri-
tam during the same period is in still greater
proportion.
thus in effect war against the United States
was carried on from ports Of Great Britain by
british subjects in the name Of the Confederates
Mr.. Golden in the House of Commons charac-
terlzed by these very words the acts permitted or
suffered by the British government ''You have
been carrying on war from these shores against
the United States he said. and have been
iniiicting an amount of damage on the country
greater than would have been produced by many
ordinary wars" Again, he writes at remains
only IN this relation refer to one other point,
namely, the question Of negligence. Neglect on
the part Of the officers Of the British government,
whether superior or subordinate, to detaIu Con-
Tolerate cruisers, and especially the Alabama,
the most successful of the depredators On the
commerce Of the United States On this point
the President conceives that little neeii now to
be sad Tor various cOgent reasons. First, The
matter has been exhaustively discussed already
by the department, or by successive American
ministers. If the question Of negligence be dis
cusset with frankness, It must be treated Ia this
instance as a case Of extreme negligence, which
Sir William Jones has taught US to regard as
equivalent or approximate to evil intention. The
question Of negligence. therefore, cannot be pre-
sented without danger Of thought or language
disrespectful towards the Queens Minister'S and
the President, while purposing Of course, as his
sense Of duty requires, TO sustain the rights Of
tie United States in all their utmost amplitude.
YET intends to speak and act in relation to
Great Britain in the same spirit OF international
respect which he expects Of her in relation to the
United States, and he is sincerely desirous that
all discussions between the Governments may be
so conducted not only to prevent any aggrav-
alton Of existing difficulties, but to tend to such
reasonable and smcable dete. miuation As best
becomes two great nations Of common origia and
conscious dignity aud strength.
Again the Secretary says it is impossible not
to compare and contrast the conduct Of the
states General as regards Great Britain, on the
occasion Of the revolt Of the British Colonies
with that Of Great britain as regards the insur-
rection in the southern States No fleets we're
lifted ont by America in the ports Of the Netaer-
lands TO prey on the commerce OF Great Britain.
Only in one single instance did American cruis-
ers nave temporary harb Rage in the Te1el
\ ear after year exports Of munitions Of war 10
the Netherhnds were forbidden by the States
General, the more completely to fulhl the duty Of
amity snd neutrality towards Great Britain.
But nevertheless Great Britain treated the de
claration Of neutrality By the States General
and observance OF that declaration As sufficient
cause Of war against the Netherlands prior to
which the British Government continually COM
plaine1 Of the occasional supplies derived by the
colonies from the Island St Eustatius How
light in this respect would have been the bur
theus Of the Unitei Stales during the late insur-
recti0n If British aid had been confined 10 con-
trabsnd commerce between the insurgents and
the port Of Nassau. Not such is the complaint
of the United States against Great Britain We
complain that the insurrection in the Southern
States If it did not exist. was continued, and
obtained its enduring vitality, by means Of re-
sources It drew from Great Britain. We COM
pisin that by reason of the imperfect discharge Of
IL neutral duties on the part Of the Queens
Government, Great Britain became military
naval and financial basis Of insurgent warfare
against the United States. We compain Of the
destruction Of our merchant marine by British
ships, manned by British seamen. armed with
British guns, dispatched from British dock
yards, sheltered and harbored in British ports.
We complain that By reason Of the policy and
acts Of the Queens Ministers injury incalculs-
ole was inflicted on the Unitei States. Never
theless, the United States manfully and resolute-
ly encountered al the great peris and difficult
ties Of the situation, foreign and domestic. and
oyercame them. We endured with proud pa
tsace the manifestations Of hostility there where
Ne had expected friendship in England. the
f.., ~
order TO perpetuate which the Southern States
had seeded from the Union