Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-21
How g,es, Britain Prolonged the War.

The grounds for the claim Of indirect
damages" made upon England which has
caused the recent excitement among English
politicians arc set forth in the case presented
to the board Of arbitrator as follows
The 4th Of July 1868, saw the aggros.
sivc force on land Of the instruction crushed.
From that day its only hope lay in proong.
ing a defiance until, by the continuance Of
the permitted violations Of British ncutrali.
ty by the insurgents, the United States should
become involved in war with Great Britain.
The insurgents had at that time good reasons
TO look for that result. The Florida, the Al.
ALBANIA and the Georgia had left British ports
for the purpose of carrying on war against
the United States, and were, nevertheless, re-
ceved with unusual honors and hospitality in
all the colonial ports Of Great Britain. Only
ten days before the great battle of Gettys-
burg, the Judge who presided at the trial Of
the Alexandria had instructed the Jury that
no law or duty Of Great Britain had been
violated in the construction and dispatch Of
the Alabama. About three months before
that time Her Majostys government had de.
cided that they would not recommend Par
lament to enact a more effective law for the
preservation Of neutrality. Laird was con-
structing rams iu Liverpool under the exist
ing Interpretation Of the law, aud the British
Government was refusing to interfere with
them. The Chancellor Of the Fxchequer,
FIVE days before the battle Of Gettysburg, had
declared in the House Of Commons, speaking
not individually but in the plural: We do
not believe that the restoration Of the Amer
lean Union by force is attainable.' Under
these circumstances the insurgents made great
exertions to keep the Florida, the Alabama
and the Georgia ahoat, and to stimulate their
officers and crews to renewed destruction Of
.------ s'vv uttuuut reason, upon lnilaming
popular passion in the United States bv the
continuance Of these acts until the people
should force the Government into a retalia.
lion upon Great Britain, the real author of
their woes. 10 pursuance of this policy they
withdrew their military forces within the lines
oil Richmond, and poured money into Bul.
locks hands to keep aAoat and increase his
British built navy, and to send it into the
most distant seas in pursuit Of the merchant
marine of the United States
Thus the tribunal will see that. after the
battle OF Gettysburg, the offensive operations
OF the insurgents were conducted only at sea
through the cruisers and observing that the
war was prolonged for that purpose, will be
able TO determine whether Great Britain
ought not in equity, to reimburse to the
United States the expenses thereby cntaed
upon them.
" On all these points evidence is presented
which will enable the tribunal to ascertain
and determine the amount of the several los. |
SEES and injuries complained Of To the amount
thus shown should be added interest upon the
claims to the day when the award is payable
by the terms of the treaty, namely, twelve
months after the date of the award The
usual legal rate of interest in the city eff New
ork, where most of the claims of indiyidu.
ais are held, is per cent. per aunum. In
some OF the States it is greater, in few of
them less. The United States mako claim
Tor interest at that rate. The computation of
The interest should be made from an average
lay to be determined. The United States
suggest the lst day of July, 1868, as the
most equitable day i