Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-11-03

Lssses sfsoo Jehs 4. Pavaes. Ess t. The
Secretary e state.
OrvfCE OF ruE
GREAr WEsrEES f~sURAscE rohrASr
GlxAr " KsrEES BriLpgScs. - WILLIAM 81
Mn Nonk JIly i--o
Hon. Hamitoa Ysh. Secr,firy Of stat
Huntington, d. q.

tohA. stAtf iSf's
Hon. Hnmaton Hsh. Secrdiry Of Stat,
Huntington, ID. &.
Nv Dear Sir: ON nv return from Wash
inxiou ! examined the statute 10 viii, b
you referred me in an interview ~ the
Department. making IL . misdcmeanor for
individuals to interfere with the diplomatic
negotiations Of the government. and
found IL all a. you stated. but I also found
In the same set Of Congress provi.o,
which l. a perfect authorization for any
citizen Ia zgpiy 20 sny foreign yoycrnm. al
f.n the re'irss. o. any injuries To person
or property which hr IBay have suffered
from such government or any - it, agents.
reference - the at itself approved
January ". i7ss. will. I thiuk satisfy you
that sm correct.
The ~holr motive OF spPlyin. to you In
the ART Instance, for liberty To- the clstu-
go. -s-,..-si., ~ xrSsiSmx e ,siTs- va th,,
Englsnd might nDt he restrained from
srtsoa fhrysxs aosbs raI tnat
their Action might DC oSrnsiye 10 the gov
ernn~ni ~ the United States. II Is seucr-
ally believed In England. aud think
universally believed herr. tina, the United
States government; desire 10 hold these
elaine Ia abeysn for Interior purpose
not openly e1pre~sed. and hence the doubt
In England. whether the government OF
the United States would view in a friendly
light any disposition on the part Of England
Ia settle the Alabama claims" with tue
individual claimants. The question has
been asked In England. not officially. but
In quarter which gives II full official force.
Iii We consent to pay these claims to the
hoiders Of them. will not the government
OF the United States add this 10 the already
Ion: list OF sins charged against England,"
Speaking In behalf Of a number OF the
claimants, We believe that the British .ov-
eminent 10 willing and disposed to pay Us
our separate claims. at least 10 the extent
contemplated in the conversation agreed
upon with Mr.. Reverdy Johnson. and per
haps also with q little revision: aud we
therefore come to YOU n the head OF the
Department Of State. aud we ask you to
say, that ifEngland chooses 10 pay US our
claims. the United States government does
not object. That is ali We ask. aud II you
refuse It. such refusal on the very face OF
IL puts the government SO directly In oppo-
sition TO the rights and interests OF its
citizens, that the subject could not be
publicly discussed without serious damage
to the Administration.
II In the pursuit Of any public policy the
government de sires TO hold these claims In
allegiance for its own purpose, it can only
do SO legally by drst assuming and paving
them. and It can then do what il pleases
with them, and 1t is supposable that the
government intends 70 deal with its ciii-
Eens within the spirit OF its own laws.
You were pleased to say to Inc at Wash
ington that the United States government
would eventually assume the Alabama
claims" but 1 can only infer from your
remarks that 1t will be ready TO do SO when
1t shall get = settlement by treaty with
England which Is satisfactory to itself.
and which shall include these claims
among other matters Ia dispute. That
would be an assumption indeed, but not
OF kind that would pay US We should
then have exchanged the double security
OF the British government and the United
States government for that Of the United
STATES alose. aud 1t would depend on Con-
gress altogether whether or not We should
ever be paid; or what our prospects would
he In that case, you will be - we'll able
TO Judge - ]. Que OF the reasons given
by you Why you could not accord 10 Us the
liberty Of negotiating In our own behalf,
was that the claims, which we represent
are altogether private interests, AID that
private interests must 1t all times be
sahservient % the panlic interests. This
supSOses thai the two interests are IN con-
uiCt, Which IN tubS case We 10 NOT perceive,
and the law which justices giving q prefer
ence 70 the state requires not only that
the two intereoes shall be in CONFLICT, the
private interest against the public, but also
that the interests Of the state shall be ia
danger thereby, and such danger must be
existing, and absolute or immineut, and
We have 10 ineimation OF aay such danger
existing. The law does not look 10 pro-
speetive Or costingsnt issaes, and especially
in this regard It cannot recognise the
states ambition to acquire territory, power
or advantags, - ~ interest to superssde
private hgAts. sYrt 4s...- H..
The opinion expressed to me By Presi.
dent Grant, that insurance companies who
had charged . premium for the war risks
cOuld have - claims ~ list character be.
longsd ooly 70, the goyesnnsnt--which
epiniOa yos stated = ne was largely en-.
tertained In Waahington-would seem to
indicate the necessity for making case
before Tie Supreme Court. That such an
opinion has bssa before expressed am
swars, I'D understAnd its origfn, design
end remedy, bat that the Presidenf should
express such N opinion must have been
withost thought spon Tie subject. The
right Of The assarer In case Of capture or
loss, 70 succoed to I'll the rights Of the
anoured. n 4 DgincinlA - Id a flhA exiaf