The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-08
The British Government Proved to Have
Knowingly Violated All Its Own Stat.
utes, PrOclamatiOns, Customs and
International Law in the
Interest Of the Rebels.
1t Is Condemned Out of Its
Own Mouth.
Direct Claims for More than Twenty.SiX Mil.
lion Dollars and Indirect for
Nearly as Much.
The British Cease Hardly Worth
Presenting.

The Alabama claims and the "case'' OF the United
States against Great Britain arising out OF those
claims Is the great political feature Of to-day.
war between the two countries would be great
misfortune. and yet we may be compelled to resort
TO arms In defence OF our rights. The "clams' OF
the United States. so far as they could be ascer-
ing out of them were published In detail IN the
HERALD few days ago. Tne Treaty of Washington
was also published at the same time, and the proro-
col ana report Of the Commission to Congress have
also been laid before readers. But the 'case"
whole has never been consecuivey given, and as
the whole question has assumed q new and more
intense importance now than 1t has mad, owing
to the double dealing of "Perndlous Albion" It will
be matter Of Information and news to the readers OF
the HERALD to present condensed review or the
whole matter from the beginning.
In presenting the case, as the lawyers would say,
to the Tribunal Of Arbitration, the United States
propose to show, by a historical statement OF the
course pursued by the British government toward
this country from the outbreak OF the rebellion,
STUDIED UNFRIENDLINEsS
on the part Of the former toward the latter. and
fixed predsposltion adverse to the United States.
This government having thus demonstrated this
spirit OF unfriendness OF Great Britain toward us,
Will next endeavOr TO indicate what they deem to
have been the duties OF Great Britain as q neutral
toward the United States. And then our
government will endeavOr 10 show that Great
| Britain tailed to perform those duties both
generally and specifically. and that such failure in.
voved the liability to remunerate the United states
for losses upon her citizens and others projected by
| her nag. Our government will not endeavor to sat
isiy the Tribunal OF Arbitration in the testimony
adduced. Ample material for estimating the
| amount OF injuries sustained by Americans, and
| the power, under article OF the treaty, TO
award "a sum in gross to be paid by Great Britain
to the United States all the claims referred tor
In presenting this mass OF evidence to the Arbtra-
ton Commission the United States reserve the right
under the treaty to present hereafter additional
documents, correspondence and evidence on this
| great question.
In opening the case, therefore, the United States
| governments previous to 1850 and up to
| the outbreak or the American civil war. The
jurisdiction anu domain OF our government are
next rected, the slavery agitation referred and
the election OF Mr.. Lincoln upon the declared plat
| form OF freedom being 'the normal condition OF
all the territory OF the United States" and denying
to individuals, to Congress Territorial Legisa-
lures the authority the right 'to give legal ex-
| istence TO slavery IN any Territory OF the United
states" The secession OF South Carolina and OF the
other Southern States which joined IN the rebellion
| Is next recited, and the consequent
ADOPTION OF PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
following and from speeches or A. II. Stephens. Jeff
DAVIS and other leaders 1t Is shown that the impel
ling motive for this illegal action Of the South was
OPPOSITION 10 the territorial limitation OF slavery.
1t Is not shown that there respectable party
In the South opposed to secession but their voice
| and influence were dimmed and overcome by the
clamor OF the more fiery and warliKe individuals.
| The South had gained considerable Roadway be-
fore Mr.. Llncons inauguration In 1861, and efforts
had been made to get England and France and
| other European governments to recognize the Con-
1 federacy. The British government had been in
| formed OF Mr.. Lincoln's purposes, and Lord John
| Russell, then Prime Minister OF England, mad
| promised to await the arrival OF Mr.. Adams before
s.fnally discussing or determining the question"
| The United states, therefore, had inplici; conf
dence In this pledge, taken together with the
previous friendly relations OF Great Britain toward
| this country, ana mad hoped to settle matters
| amieaply. But the surrender OF Fort Sumter and
the subsequent OF letters OF marque by the
| rebel government precpated events ana on the
10Th of April President Lincoln issued his prcclama
ZION declaring blockade Of certain Southern ports
The British government had invited the French TO
| Joint action American affairs, ana such
| agreement made between them was communl.
| Gated to the American Minister Mr.. Dallas.
May l. 1861. Tne United states deem II, therefore
very probable that negotiations between the two
| governments for such action were pending while
still Great Britain WAS making the most earnest
| promises Of neutrality toward the contendlnp par
ties on this Continent. There was nothing In the
PREVIOUS RELATIONS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AMI
| THE UNITED STATES
| which made IT. necessary Tor Her Majesty,s govern
ment to seek the ADVICE or to invite the support O
the Emperor oil the French in the crisis which wa
| TO conjecture what indueemcnt could have prompte
such an act unless may have been the perception
on the part OF the British government that IL wa
IN It's nature not only unrriendy, but almost nostil
10 the United Srates Our government following GU
the Presidents proclamation, show that correct an
certified copy OF 1t could not nave reached Londo
| before the l1sh Of May, 1861, and yet England ma
taken her ALTON upon an imperfect summary pre-
vlous 10 the LIST OF that month and decided I
recognize "a state Of war In the United States o.
the Attn OF May. with YET imperfect Information be
lore him, Lord John Russell met the rebel Commits
sioners anu discussed with them the recognition o
Southern independence, and on the 9th he wroe u
Lord Uowey stating that he had not received
dispatches from Lord Lyons, the British Ministe
al Washington, by the steamer (Persia) winch mac
rust arrived, because communication between
Washington and New York was still interrupted
! | me British government therefore, knew tnae
had no official or correct information oe'ore y
wherein to act In this matter and yet o. 'nls cary
date II sought sp alliance VITA the Frsacn govern