Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-04-23
CONCLUSION OF suMAER's SPEECH
UPON TIE
Rejection of. the Treaty With
England.
The Alabama Claims.
Warlika Aspao. ef ths Matter.
UPON TUE


Mr.. President, in concluding these ro-
marks, I desire to say that am NJ vo'un-
teer. Foe several years / have carefully
avoided saying anything 90 this most irrtta-
ing question, being aDx Gus that negoti1tiO rs
should be LEFT undisturbed tos.cure set
Element which could be accepted by deeply
injured nation. The submission Of the pend
ing treaty to the judgment Of the Senate
LETT mo no alternative. IL became my duty
to consider it carefully in Committee, aud
to review the whole subject. If failed to
find what we had right to expect, and, If
the Just claims Of our country assumed un-
expected proportions, II was not because
would fbear bard on England, bat because
wish most sincerely to remove all possibility
Of strife between our two countries, and it
Is evident that this can be done only By first
sscertaiuing the nature aud extent Of differ
ence. 10 this spirit i have spoken to-day.
I If the case against Eagland Is strong, and II
our claims are unprec@de nted IN m1gnlt lde,
II is only becanse the condnct OF this PSEer
at 4 tryiux period was most unfriendlys aud
the injurious consequences OF this conduct
we're on q scale corresponding 10 the theatre
OF action. LIE and property Esre both
swallowed up, leaving behind deep seated
sense of enormous vrorg, as yet un nttoned
and even unaeknOWledged, which Is one OF
the chef factors iu the problem nov Pee
seuted TO the statesmen OF bob countries.
The attempt to close this great International
debate without = CONS plete settlement L
little short Of pusrile With the lapse Of
/ tina and with minnter considerations the
ease against Esgiand becomes more grave,
bos only from the questions of international
| responsibility which it Involves, but from
better cozpzehension Of the damages which
] 7 - ~. - ~ff n
| ring the var and for im) time thereafter
il Was init o sible to state thsm. The mas:
Of mountain cannot be measured AZ u'
hase. The observer must occupy certain
distance. aaA this rule o. perspective Justly
] applicable to damagea which are vast beyond
precede Mt. A few dates viii show the pro
eress Of the co1troversy aud how the case
euiargrd. Going as fsr back as the 2osh o
Nov .s4be.r. 1862, We lad our hsnister IL
Lor don, Mr.. AlAms, eating for redress ffou
the British Government on account OF th'
Alabama. This was the uild heg'aning
GA the 22d Of October, 1893, In anothe
communication the same kinister suggested
to the British Gsvernment any iAr An.
equitable form OF srbitramento or reference
This proposition slanseced in the b l1isl
Foreign Olice for nearly two years, q aeF'n,
vhieh the Alabama was pursuing her pfrati
cal career, when on August 50, 1853, It va
awakened by Lord Russell, only to b
knocked down In these words;
..I, xour letter of Oct q Isd3. yoa we're please
L, ssv that the Gaxerunienf sf the tuitsd states
ready 10 agree n any form of arbitration
.Her Majestys Governments must, thereiorss ae
Iins either 10 make repAraton and compensation =
me captures made By tia Alabama, or 10 rcier IN
question 10 any foreign state
Such vas our repulss nom England, has
> jnq At least the merit Of frankness, II notA
, ing else. Ol the lTth of ofOctober, lseS' on
I Mn ster informed Lord Russell that a.
Z T1aRed States had dually resolved 20 max
no effort for arbitration. Again the whoI
4 question slumbered until the -'th Oh AZ
= Sust- 1866. when Mr.. Seward presented
iist Of individual claims on account OF ID
nirsts Alabama. Fron that tsza nesoiiA
lion has continued With ups and doWn.
> nn,il AZ last the pending treaty vas signed
Ma the early Overtures Of our Governmer
! hsen nromptiy accepted, of had there bee
u :, .r1 lime last recognition Of the Ercn
sone. l doubt not that this great qHstlo
~oald have been settled but the reJeetio
OF oar very moderate propositions and IN
protracted delay, which afforded an oppol
tunity to review the case N It's elnsrsl y
bearings. have awakened the people % "
magnitude Of the interests involved. II ot
demands are larger nov than =, oar hr'
esu it n not tbe ouly time 10 history whei
!, sns, . rise has occurred. The story OF n
S,bvlis rspssied, end Eaglsnd is tas X
g man hing. Shah these claims bs = nidAte
and cancelled promptly, OF allowed 10 slnn
her uutil called ini0 activity by some Ialpi
exigency There are many anong Us ~
taklpG counsel OF sense OF nAiiooa' W.. VI.
would ,Es ths m 10 rest Nithous -
40 a. 10 furnish precedent tot ISS-,'.... -.
in klnd, should England nad nsrsep -
There are many 80 E9gland vac, -
counsel Of peFvsrse pontieal 'sss.5, 49,. =. :
spurred them absolu,ely an- Ls.e.
others Who, invoking the ~. ,,.ss y. -. ~
re sert that Engian eNnIss ~. Ionor m
"a go sni = nsyil rom both sides II Is no. .
AMI MI 40 iaaEine one Of cur eoansry~ N