The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-18

consideration of all claims without exception
on the part of corporations companies, or
private individuals against the United States,
arising out of acts committed against the
persons or property of British subjects
during the period between the 18th of April,
1861, and the 9th of April, 1865, inclusive.
In England there is held by British sub
iects some forty millions of Rebel cotton
bonds, which we're sold for what they would
bring to English sympathizers with the Re-
bellion, in order to furnish the Rebels with
money to destroy the United States Govern
ment The English owners of these bonds
have always held that the United States are
responsible for the payment, and it is certain
that an attempt will be made to include them
in the claims against this country which are
to be the subject of arbitration. This may
seem absurd: but it does not appear SO to the
English, as the following letter which re-
Gently appeared in Herepath'S RatJoody and
Commercial Jo01ndI very plainly shows
CONFEDERATE COTTON BONDS.
s'Mr. Edi you allow me a very
small share of your space to correct, not a
misstatement, but what appears to me to be
a misconception pervading your article last
week on the bject of the Confederate cotton
bonds? You appear to assume that it is in
the power of the American Government to
postpone indefinitely the settlement of these
claims. Permit me to say that this is wholly
erroneous. The commission to be appointed
will take cognizance, not only of the Alabama,
but of all claims of the citizens or subjects
of both nations: and it is considered certain
10y those best informed in the matter, that a
decision of all the questions referred to it
may be expected before August. Hence
arises the great confidence of the bondhold-
ers. Their position is changed from that
of suppliants before an unwilling and hostile
Government, to that of suitors before an I'M
partial tribunal whose case is clearly and un-
doubtedly incontestable. am, ETC., X. A.
76 Old Broad street, London, E. c., April y,
1871"
tmay be said that the failure of the defunct
Confederacy to pay its obligations did not
arise out of acts committed against the per-
sons or property of British subjects, and that
hence the claims of the bondholders will be
barred from considerations but the resources
of British diplomacy are wonderful, and there
is no doubt that competent lawyers would be
able to present plausible arguments to prove
the contrary. 1t is too important matter to
be left to the possibility of doubt, and the
consideration of this sort of claim should be
! expressly forbidden in terms that admit of no
| question. If the British Com missioners IN
| tend to exclude these bonds from the claims
to be arbitrated upon, they can have no OBJ
| lection TO the fact being definitely set forth
in the treaty; if they do intend that they shall
pe considered, tney may as We1 pack Cnelr
trunks and leave, for the bare proposal of such
an outrage would be an insult compared with
which those that have preceded it would be
trifiing indeed.
The present holders of the Rebel bonds
bought the greater part of them for mere
song, and could afford to pay millions of dol
lars to get them allowed. The decisions of
the commissioners appointed to arbitrate the
claims will be final, and it is provided that all
sums of money which may be awarded by the
commissioners on account of any claims
shall be paid within twelve months after the
date of the final award; SO that it may reason
ably be expected that if the treaty is ratified,
the admitted claims of British subjects will
be settled during the term of the present ad,
mlnstration. When the enormous amount
of money at stake is taken into account and
when it is further considered that the virtual
head of the State Department is notorious
bribe-tsker, it does not seem strange that the
public regards with uneasiness the attempts
at concealment and misrepresentation which
have been SO boldly made in connection with
this treaty.