Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-22
DANGER OF WAR.

The Senate has, by vote Of ifty-four to one
refused to ratify the treaty with England for the
settlement of claims for property destroyed by
Confederate cruisers As the Alabauaa was the
prominent agent in the destruction Of American
vessels, these claims are usually alluded to as tht
Alabama claims" The treaty so unanimously
rejected by the Senate was drawn up by Honora
bic Reverdy johnson, on the part of the United
States, and Lord Clarendon, on the part Of Eng
land. Mr. johnson conformed to all the direo
tions of Mr.. Seward, then Secretary of State ir
arranging the terms of agreement between the two
countries and the treaty was universally consider
ed extremely favorable to the United States. Tht
London Times, the great exponent Of English
sentiment, thought that England had conceded a.
much as she possibly could, without national deg
radiation. -.
But the treaty which England so reluctantly
agreed to, does not satisfy the Senate. When the
question of ratification came up, Sumner spouted
two hours in classic style, Fessenden mildly spread
out the American eagle, and Chandler roared like
a mad-bull-all opposed to ratifying treaty which
proposes an honorable peace between two great
nations of kindred blood. And when the vote
was taken, only one man in the Senate ventured to
record himself in its favor. That man was Nc
Creery, of Kentucky.
The most remarkable feature Of the case is the
fact that the treaty was not rejected because Eng
land refused to satisfy the demands made upon
her. The treaty provided that the claims should
be left to umpires, who were to award satisfaction
for damages proved to have been suffered by citi.
zens of the United States But the Senate now
demands more than was asked at the time of ma.
king the treaty. and rejects it because that is not
granted which was never demanded. Mr.. Sum.
ner's argument claims that in addition to all pri
vate losses Great Britain should also compensate
the United States for all losses sustained by ht
nation. He desires to make England responsible
for all damages sustained by the United States
navy and its citizens at sea during the entire war
This preposterous claim he sustains on the ground
that England recognized the Confederate Govern
ment as a belligerent when it had no navy, aue
could never have procured any without torelgr
assistance
It is easy to see that the Senate is not at all anx
ious to effect peaceful settlement Of the questions
at issue between the two countries. Knowing, as
they do, that England had already conceded more
than she thought was required of her, the Senate
have wantonly insulted the English nation by ask
ing yet more. And this action has been followed
up by the recall of Mr.. johnson, who was popular
in England as the United States Minister. In ht
stead Mr.. Motley, man of high standing as ar
author, but in politics an old-school abotionist
'moral-idea' disciple of Sumner, has been con
6rmed as minister to England.
AS the matter stands, there is little prospect fol
peace. England has all along refused to admit
that she did wrong in recognizing the belligeren'
rights of the Confederacy, and she is not likely te
admit it now, under threats from such men as now
constitute the Senate of the United States The
Times says England will now ''await propositions,
as she has no more to offer. Mr. Chandler prop.
osition is that she surrender all Canada as "dam.
ages to the American eagle. Which proposition
the British lion will probably "study" little be-
fore he accedes to it.