The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-03-02
The 4L0h0ul0 CI0juss.


The dispute about consequential damages in
the Alabama claims question before the Board
of Arbitrators at Geneva, Switzerland, is but
very partially understood by the great mass of
readers.
The programme upon which England pro-
posed to settle the matters in dispute and the
plan adopted by the Johnson Clarendon Treaty
was the payment of gross amount of money to
the United States for the damages that had
been sustained by the American Commerce
through the depredations ofthe Alabama and
other vessels during the war of the rebellion
This was to be done without reference to the
fact that there would be funds enough to pay
all parties who had sustained injuries.
1t was this provision that excited Mr.. Sum-
ner's opposition to the ratification to that
treaty, and Mr.. Sumner carried the country
with him in his opposition. Then he took the
ground that the items should be made out in
every particular, and each Individual who
sustained any loss in consequence of Con-
federate cruisers fitted out at English ports
should be paid the last dollar of his loss.
These items are more numerous than it was
anticipated by the English they would be. In
addition to this, as we suggested last week, the
English attempted to have the Confederate
bonds allowed before the Board of Arbitrator.
The Board saw fit in their wisdom to reject the
payment of these bonds. This stirred the ire
of wealthy Johnny-Bulls, whose money had
been exchanged for the cotton that was COM
mitted to the flames during the war.
Thus when it comes to paying every item of
mischief that was done us by powder and ball
| furnished with this same money that was rails
ed on ungrown cotton, the saucy English lion
| begins to growl, and claims that there is no
| injustice in the claim. We simply ask to be
remunerated for our losses. We only demand
pay for the injury we have suffered. Anything
short of this will be nothing but failure to do
| Justice to individuals who have suffered inno-
Gently at their hands. There is yet another
| face upon the case so far as England is con-
cerned. There are willy, wirery politicians
over the waters as we'll as here. There are
folks out of the Ministry in England who are
as anxious to get in as aspiring Americans are
to become Congressman or members of the
Cabinet And they well understand how to
get up sensation that may aid them in doing
it. This is just what leading politicians in
England have done to facilitate their schemes
| in politics.
| This little episode in the proceedings of the
Treaty of Washington has given the outs an
opportunity to create a sensation that may
watt them to power. They undertake to make
the present Ministry responsible for the failure
of the English wishes in regard to the matters
in dispute. 1t is charge laid against the
Ministry, and those wishing to get in are max
| ing this stepping stone to elevate themselves
| to a position in the English Cabinet. When
they see, which will happen in few weeks or
months at most, that the attempt will be a
izzle, the fuss will subside, the objections fall
| to the ground and the whole controversy termi.
nate in talk Johnny-Bull will forget that he
ever behaved naughtily or made himself look
ridiculous. In the meantime Charles Francis
Adams, our member of the board of Arbitrators
will return home to consult with leading Ameri-
cans, while the claims will have to be translated
into German, French and italian III order that
the other members may be able to read them
When this is all over Johnny-Bull will be as
quiescent as calm in mid-ocean.