The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-24
LETTER OF MIR. CYRUS W. FIELD TO HON.
JOHN A. PETERS,.
His View OF the Claims for Indirect
Damages
NEW YORK Anril % 1879


NEW YORK, April %, 1872.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
DEAR SIR-Referring to the leading editorial In
this mornings HERALD in regard to the Alabama
claims, and in which my name is entioned, beg
leave to enclose you copy Of a letter have this
afternoon mailed to Judge Peters, at Washington,
and remain, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, CYRUS w. FIELD
NEW YORK, April 49, 1872.
MY DEAR JUDGE PETERS, have carefully read
the preamble and resolution which YOU gave me
last week, and which you introduced into the House
of Representatives on the 9th instant In regard to
the Alabama claims and indirect damages"
since my return from Europe, four weeks ago,
have spent great portion OF my time I'm endeavor-
ing TO ascertain how the unfortunate misunder
standing between the governments Of the United
States and OF Great Britain respecting these in
direct claims has arisen, and what was the true
feeling of our people In regard to the same. have
Washington, and have hardly found person who
does not regret that these claims have been put
into our case, and who is not DESTROYS that they
should be at once withdrawn.
Among those whom have seen are Mr.. Bena-
min X. Curtis, late Judge of the Supreme Court OF
the United States, and who was selected by the
government as counsel to argue their case before
the Geneva Tribunal; Hon. William Beach Lawrence,
of New York. the able writer on international law
Rev. Dr. WoOsey, ex-President of Yale College, who
has devoted so much time to the study Of the law
OF nations; George Ticknor Curtis, the well-kn0wn
lawyer, and Hon Reyerdy Johnson late United
the idea OF consequential damages
wish that every member OF the Senate and
House OF Representatives would read carefully the
documents relating to these claims, transmitted to
Congress with the Presidents last annual message,
and the United States and English cases as pre-
scented at Geneva ana the aDe comments on the
It's and Mr.. johnson, which have been published,
and then, believe, they would come to the conclu-
sion that the indirect claims should be abandoned
One item included in these claims is the expenses
of the war from the battle of Gettysburg, which
would amount to over one thousand millions Of dol
lars. Can any one believe that the English Com
missloners ever intended that such a demand
should be considered by the arbitratOrs, particu-
larry as one clause of the treaty stpulates that the
amount OF the award, II any, shall be paid in gold
at the city of Washington within one year Would
they have consented to pledge their government to
be iquidated within the time why, II such enor-
nous claims were to be preferred did not the Amer
lean Commissioners insist upon their being inserted
in the treaty, and thereby prevent the possibility
any misunderstanding
l wish that the persons who prepared the Ameri-
can case had exhibited little more of the spirit
which animated the President Of the United States
when he said, LET us have peace'' and Of that of
Sir Stafford NorthcOte, when, at public dinner, in
n ep to 1ne Te he
certain that there is not in the United States
or In the United Kingdom who does not cordially and
from the bottom OF his heart endorse that senti-
ment;" and again, "National honor does not con-
sist in not acknowledging wrong, In always insist
ing that what has been done has been done rightly;
mistake, because OF the fear that 1t
will be said that 1t is done from an I'M
Willingness to face the consequences. True national
honor, like true personal honor believe consists
In this in being ready to do justice In all things, to
maintain your own rights and to recognize the rights
0fyour opponents, and just to go far beyond
justice as this, that when the point is doubtful you
would rather give it against yourself than for your
self" And that great friend of America, John
Bright, showed the same spirit when in replying to
toast .The Peace and Prosperity OF Great Britain
and the United States,' he said, (which means that
we desire an unbrOken friendship with the people
of that country. With one heart and voice we
accept that sentiment, and, without any fear of
tradiction, we assert that we are on that point
truly representative OF the unanimous feeling of
the three kingdoms Men here forget that, after
all, we are but one nation having two governments.
We are OF the same noble and heroic race. Half
the English family is on this side the Atlantic in its
ancient home, and the other half over the ocean
there being no room for them here) settled on the
American Continent. No man will dare to say that
the people Of the United States the people OF the
United Kingdom are not in favor of peace. And I
assert this that he is an enemy Of our English race
and, indeed, an enemy OF the human race who
creates any difficulty that shall interfere with the
permanent peace and friendship Of all the members
OF our great English-speaking famiy.n With great
respect remain, my dear Judge Peters, very truly
your friend, CYRUS W. FIELD
Hon. john A. PETERS, House Of Representatives,
Washinrton