The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-03-14
HOYT 6 CO., Proprietors
Reyerdy Johnson's Speech ON the Washington
:fl:l Treaty.

Interesting because it looks to peace between
the nations, and delicate because negotiations
are now going on to preserve the peace between
two great nations. From what he was about
To- say it might be thought that he found fault
with our own government But 1t Is the duty
of every citizen to express his OPINION upon
the political topics of the day, and especially
when the peace and prosperity OF the country
is threatened. They were all familiar with the ne
Treaty of Washington, which, it is feared, Will
he q failure. The British government declares
that some of the demands were never contem-
nlatad: on the other hand the United States
Claims that all he-demands are contained In
the treaty and so intended. He then gave a
history Of the negotiations between the two
countries prior to 1874 The peace OF the
COUNTRIES mas then imperilled, but General
Washington sent John Jay. to England, who
arrested war and settled the claims success
fully and satisfactorily. He also spoke OF the
subsequent difficulties which eliminated IN the
war of 1872, and that war proved to the world
that the citizens of the United States were ape
to cope with any other country. That war d1d
not settle the difficulties, for England still held
to the doctrine of native allegiance, bnt an
American citizen was never impressed aIter.
He knew from his own personal knowledge
shat those who control the government OF Eng
land are solicitous to do all they can for Ireland
Rnt the Irish are impetuous and brave, and
when they went from the United States and
violated the law, they were arrested, and they
were denied q jury of citizens OF the United
States, because they were still considered Brit
ian subjects. In 1868 the speaker was appoin-
ke to represent the United States at the court OF
her Britannia Majesty. AS soon as ne reached
london he had an interview with the Queen,
and with Lord Stanley; but he could 90 moth
Ing until the idea of native allegiance was
abandoned, and in October of that year the
object was accomplished. Another cause OF
DISPUTE Was the northwestern boundary, and
that was settled without difficulty but it failed
20 be ratified by the Senate, because Senator
spoke the time out. The next was the Alabama
difficulty. The war-he wished ne could for
Get it-but the South claimed the right to have
a navy. They had no ports of their own In
which to build vessels and they went to Eng
land. In 1862 the Florida was built at Liver
pool. and the English government was con-
stantly advised that the vessel was building,
hut England did nothing. She cleared as
merchant vessel, and went out without armor
But she went out prepared to war, and every
thing on. her denoted she was for war. Sn5se-
ouently Mr.. Laird built the Alabama, and al
most from day to day, and certainly week ey
week. Mr.. Adams laid before Lord Russell, in
Finally. Lord Russell sent an order for her ar
rst but her owners heard of the order and got
off without q clearance and under the command
of Admiral Semraes He had often met
semmes since, and asked him how many yes.
sells belonging to people of Maryland he had
DESTROYED, and he replied, not one. He loved
his native State too well for that he was after
the Yankees. But the war is over and the
country is as our fathers intended lt-one.--
Mr. Adams, still the Minister of the United
States. proposed to Earl Russell, still at the
head of the Foreign Office, tc refer the claims
of the United States to arbitration, but ne
refused, saying that England had done moth
AS soon as the first gun was fred at Sumter,
the Queen recognized the belligerent rights OF
the Confederate States. The United States
denied that right on the part of England, and
proposed to refer ii to arbitration, but England
refused, but subsequently that was granted.
Nv treaty of January, 1869, that question was
left to arbitration, but the Senate rejected it
almost unanimously. That did not surprise
him. for Johnson was President, and Seward
Secretary of State, and they stood so low that
one more vote Oh the impeachment of johnson
would have made Judge Chase President of the
limited States. But at that time the United
States did not presend anything but individual
damages. There was nothing thought OF con-
seauential damages. The only question then
thought of was she redress of the citizens OF
the United States for individual losses. When the
speech of Mr.. Sumner, making those extraor-
dinary demands appeared, the tide of friendship
rolled back, and it was looked upon as an IN
salt. Speaking of the Treaty of Washington,
amounting to 81, zoo, 100000, it was claimed,
was designed, and intended to be SO understood
He spoke of the English members of the High
Commission as men of rare ability. The prot
ocol of the Treaty of Washington claimed in
diyidual damages-the cost of the efforts to
capture the cruisers-and they claimed indirect
damages but said they did not propose any
means of settlement. They did not give, means
by which the consequential damages could be
settled. and that was an abandonment OF such
claims. England had better fight than pay
half of them. He vas no apologlst Tor Mr.
Gladstone, who said Mr. Davis had made
nation, but subsequently found out that ne had
mot made a nation. But England had done a
great deal. She went further than we would
under the circumstances. She agreed to these
rules to govern the two countries forever at
terward, and she supposed we would adopt
them. She agreed to use all reasonable dill
oence to prevent the building of any vessel
AGAINST a belligerent with which she is at peace,
nor suffer such to depart from her ports. And
she said further that such vessels arriving in
her colonial ports should not increase their
armament and men, But Mr.. Sumner said Eng
land had not apologized The Treaty of Wash;
;noton was ratified, and both countries seemed
deIiehted. Earl Grey, in the House % Lords,
announced that there was no claim tor c0nse-
suential damages. Gladstone said if these
damages are included in the treaty, it is fraud,
and the commissioners of England were de-
ceived. He was anxious that the peace OF the
world shall be maintained. He had seen enough
of war, that of 1872, the war with Mexico, and
last. that direful war which arrayed brother
aoainst brother and desolated nearly one-half
Of the country. God forbid that the United
States shall do anything, to bring on war with
any country in the world, and especially with
that from which we descended, whose fame is