The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-03-08
NJ i 8 @ eIIaneous.
THE WASHINGTON TREATY.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE METEOROLOGICAL
SPEECH OF HON. REvERDY JOHNSON.
We give below, from the Baltimore SIN,
a synopsis of the speech of the Hon. Rev
erdy johnson, delivered on Tuesday night,
February 27th, in Baltimore, at meeting
held under the auspices of the American
Peace Society. 1t is brief but clear and
comprehensive explanation of the difficult
ties between the United States and Eng
land, and coming as it does, from so dis
tinguished statesman and jurist as Mr.
johnson, is worthy Of a careful perusal
Mr.. johnson said: l am about to speak
on subject at once interesting and deli
cate; interesting because it concerns the
happiness and prosperity of two great ma
! tions, and delicate, because the difficulties
which now exist and which threaten to
disturb the peace of the two countries are
now the subject of negotiation.
1t may be that in the discussion of this
subject may have to find fault with our
government in its dealings with the ques-
ton, but l hold it the duty and right of
every citizen to express his opinion upon
all questions of the day. especially upon
such questions as involve the prosperity
and safety of the land.
The treaty of the Sth of May, 1871, is
threatened with failure. The cause of the
apprehended failure is that Great Britain
asserts that certain claims made by us I'M
der the head of indirect or consequential
damages were never contemplated by the
iotn Of ba tu |,
the legislative or executive departments of
that country. The government of the Uni
ted States, on the contrary, aver that the
claims which have given rise to the con-
troversy are claims which we are entitled
to demand, even if they are not embraced
by the terms Of the treaty.
In order to understand the subject clear
ly | will present briefly the history of such
negotiations as have preceded the treaty
of Washington, and which in some way or
other relate to it.
Subsequent to the treaty of 1888, and up
to the treaty of 10th November, 1894, va
rious controversies between the two gov
ernments as to the Interpretation of the
treaty of 1888, and as to whether the two
countries had complied with its terms, took
place. General Washington, great SOL
dier, but greater Christian, managed by
despatching a special minister to England
and securing the appointment of five COM
missioners to settle the dispute and evade
conflict. Both countries were saved, the
rights of the people of this country were
protected, and career Of prosperity enter
ed upon such as no nation, young as we
were, ever before enjoyed. Soon after,
however, other difficulties arose.
England laid claim that native allie
glance or the allegiance of birth was inal-
ienable; that to be born on her soil was to
make one through all time a subject of
Great Britain. Under this doctrine our
naturalized, and sometimes our native cit
liens were impressed from aboard our own
ships, and the evils resulting from the en-
forcement of this law by Great Britain pro-
duced the war of 1912. That war proved
to the world that the citizens of the Unit
ed States were able to cope with the peo-
pie of any other country, and proved espe-
cially to that country which had driven
every flag but her own from off the ocean
that ship to ship and man to man-the
American flag was never in danger. One
effect of that war was that no naturalized
citizen was ever afterwards impressed from
our ships. That law of perpetual ale
glance we exploded 10y the results of the
war Of 1919,
In tho summer OF 1858 was appointed
to represent the United States at the Court
of st. James. told the foreign secretary
with Il frankness which characterized my
whole conduct in the premises, that before
every question, must be settled the rights
of naturalized citizens. The result was
that on the 9th October, 1895, y protocol
was signed guaranteeing to every natural
ized citizen, be he Englshman or lrishman,
on his return to his native soil, the protec-
ton of the American flag. Applause.
There was afterwards another question OF
disputc-the Northwestern boundary. In
my proposed settlement of the case the ar
bitter named was the President Of the swiss
republic, In the settlement proposed now
the arbitrator is the Emperor of Germany
There is no other difference between the
two arrangements.
Next came the Alabama difficulty. The
South sent her cotton to Liverpool to con
vert it iuto materials of war, In March
1869, | think, there was fitted out at Liv-
erpool the Florida. In the May or June
following. Mr. Laird, M. p, built for the
same agent rs ordered the Florida, the Al