Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-01-13

1870, writes rs follows:
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
This document continues to exercise the
newspaper press of this country, both met
ropolitan and provincial.
TIE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
II is hoped that some means will be
found to heal up, at once and forever, the
old sore caused by the depredations Of the
Anglo-COnfcderatep parties, without wound
Ing the national vanity. John Bull is
heartily sick of them, and feels that the
time has come when a great effort should
be made to atone for the negligence of his
rulers in permitting such Il breach Of neu-
trality as was, certainly, involved in the
building, equipment, and sailing of these
rebel war ships from British ports.
The Presidents message says that =
1.-The Cabinet of London does not seem
willing 10 concede that the British Minis
try was guilty of any negligence, or had
done, or permitted any act during the war
of which the United States have any Just
cause to complain" l think l may say
that universal exception is taken to this
statement. All parties, conservatives, lib
erals, and what are called advanced liber-
ais, say that President Grant is mistaken
that the very fact that "A convention had
been signed by the English Government,
which the then United States ambassador
was satisfied with as affording the basis of
an amicable adjustment of the claims in
question, is proof that the Cabinet of
London did concede that the then Govern
ment had been guilty of negligence in the
| premises. If not, no convention for the
| settlement of the claims would have been
signed and, must say, that the present
Cabinet seem most willing to admit that
the United States Govern ment has lust
grounds for complaint, and, if the pay
ment of II very large amount of damages
would condone the offence, the matter
might be arranged without further trouble
| That is, what have said in former letters
if the little bill of Uncle Sam were pre-
sented in dollars and cents, check on the
Bank of England would be given for the
sum claimed without unnecessary delay.
England is DESTROYS, just now, at all
events, TO stand well with the people of
| tllt bnllcu DltlCS, anu IL would DE scarcely
possible TO name sum so high that il
would not be willingly paid to accomplish
an object which all have so much Mt heart
"a really friendly understanding with
| America.
THE FISHERIES QUESTION
is looked upon altogether as a Canadian af-
fair, and people here are not at all chary
in their expressions of disapprobation at
the course pursued by the Dominionites.
Almost every one says that ii would be
well for English interests if the new Do
minion, instead of being, as President
! Grant suggests, n semi-independent and
responsible power, were wholly independ-
ent and responsible to the United States for
its acts. In fact, most English statesmen
whose opinions command respect in Eng
lish political circles, would be very glad
indeed II the dominion would sue for its
independence. Neither armies nor fleets
they say, would be sent from the United
Kingdom to compel their continuance n,
an appendage of the British crown. Ever
those who contend that the colonists hav,
kept strictly within the bounds Of interna
tional rights, admit that they have, M
doubt, used these rights in an unfriend
ly spirit toward the United States, as "a re
taliatory measure for the non-ronowal Of
the treaty of commerce between the latter
and themselves. The illustrated LondoI