The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-11-26

on the SubJecG OF tue Aiaoau1a cialulS, IS /
in reply to couple of letters from Mr. A. /
Parker on the same subject. which have
appeared in the Now York Eneaing Post
This letter will be found an admirable
review of the whole question, as well as
of Mr. Parker's position
New YoaK. October %, 1870.
Hon Han1lfoa Fish:
My DEAR SIR: \ few days ago let
ter from Mr.. Parker. in relation to the
alabama Claims" appeared in the
Eucn53tg Post, in which the writer propds-
es that the individual claimants shall be
allowed to negotiate directly, and without
the intervention of cur Government, with
the Government Of Great Britain, to re-
cover their money This letter was ad-
dressed to Mr. Frelinghuysen. Last
evening another letter is given in the
Post, addressed to yourself, after your
oficial refusal 10 permit the application
abroad. Both these letters the Post very
earnestly endorses. 1t seems that the
British Ministry had been approached
even before you were appealed TO, and it
was understood they were very wiling to
pay these claimants. The grounds and
illustrations on which the writer and the
Post advocate this course are certainly
Plausible, but, upon reflection. must, |
think, appear failaeious and unsound to Il
candid. uninterested reader, and perhaps
i few words from one who is neither a
politician nor claimant, showing how
this proposal strikes his mind, may not
be disagreeable TO you.
/ suppose at the outset that lie proper
operation, II not the letter of internafion-
al lew, would stand in the way if there
were no positive statue Of the country to
be intrir scd. Surely this must be re
.ardel as settled in all ordinary cases,
| that Governments transact with Govern
ments where Claims are to he enforced
aud this is net 4 case where British
authorities employed the claimants TO
+, perform a given work for a stipulated
! price, aud might possibly be impleadel
/ in their courts but where rcparation is
solght for wrong. These cIaims gro.v
/ Only out of an alleged wrong which it is
the duty. of the Government to see right
ed, and indiyiduals can not right.
Again These claimants arc indebted
purely aud solely 20 what our Governs
n,ent has ALREADY done fer the fact that
England is now ready 10 recognize any
claim whatever On their part if that
Government Is 50 far willing, as they
allegc Il they had stood alone, aud our
Government ia 1 not iute7ferred. beyond
all question nor one dollar wotid thcy
ever havc been able to recover or Eng
land woasi ever have allowed. it would
be strange. then. If II the moment when
they believe the Government has placed
them III & condition To regain their losses
they should be permitted to ignore it.
authority and vaiuc. turn their backs up
on it. and expose its honor 10 the ridi
cule Of Foreigners, as il, it were an incap
able or untrustworihy agent. Real patri
otism would hardly proceed in such !
manner And suppose they should fail
after all ? Is the Government again L
take up at all this disadvantage the caus,
which they have so seriously embarrassed
1t is to be remembered that whatever
might be imagined respecting a cause 20
vet tonched, this cause, either by tn.
requirement. or the very cordial acquIes
: cence OF these parties is now and from
the first has been, in the hands Of ou
Goyernment There then, it certainly
c appears, it should remain until fnall,
settled At least, ii the Governmcn
. chose to permit different course, yet tn,
claimants could have no right to dcmant
it But farther: The money claim is Ja,
p6rrt of the case made with Great Britain
That of itself became a clam, because Q
. | the wrong under which the money wa
lost and to assert the dignity and homo
of the country and repair this wrong, 5
that the like may not again occur to JeoT
g ard the pecuuiary interests Oh the inter
:. ests of peace and righteousness hetwcel
i, two great nations. is at least as high an,
valuable an end as the recovery of an
i given amount Of money. Would tn
payment Of these claims in the name
d proposed fairly aud frankly meet tha
= object? It might be interpreted, indee
into an admission on the part of Groa
Britain that there was some renissnes
! ON the part of her officials which Nigh
S impose upon'her degree of responsible
"a ity and that, think, she has admittet
and thereon is willing to endure som
) amount of damages But would it rcpai
the indignity of the hasty aud unfriendl
d neutrality act the ir.decorum of Lor
1t John Russeli's sneers at 1.-THE tate Unite
States" while he was the member Of til
administration with whom cur countr
le Tat amity with them1 was to deal ? I'll
injury infected By other rriyateers? Nj
Sc Gladstone's depreciating speeches. an
the btu lBpIdl IbnlCHtc ~ WIZ
course while our dreadful war continued
y Could ii do. all this? | think not. @
the contrary, it must weaken the positie
ct of our Government fatally, as it seems
is me. 1t would be miserable. backir
!, out from the high, but just position v
, have been understood hitherto to mai
= tain. and would 90 very far to render
IN contemplate, and justify Great Brita
Il and any other nation in inflicting indi
ie mites: for if only . money considerati'
e. should be offered it would heal all woun
of honor. But where the dignity Of a n
3. ton is at such point, its.usefullness,
.st grand life, all its moral power over t
nj world are gone. No creditors, for a
>, amount of money, have the right to as
VI to hint at, any such sacrifices, ON I
he part of their country. 1t seems lit
ry short of treason. And that this apple