Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-02-16
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
WAsHINaroN. Feb. Z.

1HE 1OllOWlnR IL lnc 1ull lOAJ OI IIe
American case in relation to claims for
indirect damages. 1t is the sixth and
closing chapter of the printed volume sub
mitted to the arbitrators at Geneva. The
chapter is entitled "The Tribunal should
award sum in gross to the United
States"
In the opening conference Of the Joint High
Commission relating to the Alabama claims, the
American Commissioners stated the demand of the
United States They said that there extensive
direct losses in the capture and destruction of
large number Of vessels and their cargOes, and in
heavy national expenditures In pursuit OF cTuisers
and indirect injury in the transfer Of large part Of
the American commercial marine to the British flag;
enhanced payments Of insurance in the prolonga-
ton Of the war; and in the addition Of large sum
to the cost Of the war and suppression Of the rebel
lion. They further said that the amount of direct
losses to individuals which had thus far been pre-
sented amounted to about $14,000,000, without the
interest, which amount was liable to be greatly in
creased by claims which had not been presented; ;
ana tnat tne direct loss 70 the government ID me
pursuit of cruisers could be easily ascertained by
certificates of Government Accounting officers.
They added that, in the hope of an amicable settle
ment, no estimate was made OF indirect losses,
without prejudice, however to the right Of indem
nilcation on their account in the event Of such
settlement being made. The British Commissioners
declined to make the amicable settlement which
was proposed on the part of the United States.
The Joint High Commission then entered into ne
gotiahons which resulted in an agreement in order
to remove and adjust all complaints and claims on
the part of the United States, and to provide for
speedy settlement Of such claims that all claims
| growing out of the acts committed by several YES
! sells which have given rise to claims generally
known as the Alabama Claims should be referred
to this Tribunal Of Arbitration. 1t was further
agreed by this Tribunal should II find that Great
Britain had by any act or OMISSION failed to fulfill
any of the duties set forth in the rules in the sixth
article OF the Treaty or recognized by the principles
of International Law, not inconsistent with such
rule it might then proceed to award sum in gross to
be paid by Great Britain to the United States for all
| the claims referred to 1t. The claims, stated by
/ American COmmi
! follows
First. Claims for direct losses growing out of the
destruction of vessels and their cargoes by insur-
| gent cruisers. Second. National expenditures in
pursui. of those cruisers. Third Loss in the trans
| Ter OF American commercial marine to the British
! flag. Fourth Enhanced payments of insurance.
Fifth. Prolongaon Of the war, and the addition OF
large sum to the cost Of the war and suppression
! OF the rebellion.
So far as these losses and expenditures grew out
| of acts committed by the several cruisers, the
! United States entitled to ask compensation and
remuneration therefor before this Tribune. The
claims for direct losses growing out OF the destruc-
! ton OF vessels and their cargoes, may be further
subdivded into, first, claims for the destruction OF
vessels and property OF me Government nm OF me
of vessels and property under the flag of the United
States third, claims for damages or injuries TO per-
sons growing ont Of the destruction of each class
| of vessels in the accompanying volume seven 90.
J The Tribunal will find ample data Tor determining
| the amount Of damage which should be awarded IN
| consequence OF injuries inflicted by reason OF the
destruction of vessels or property whether of the
| Government or private persons. The Government
vessels DESTROYED were Of two classes those under
| charge of the Treasury Department and those in
! charge of the Navy Department. The Tribunal OF
/ Arbitration win find in volume seven % detailed
statements Of this class of losses, certified by the
Secretary of the Treasury, or by the Secretary or
! The Navy as the case may be- The United States
reserve however, as 10 this and as to al other
classes of claims the right TO present turther
] claims and further evidence in support OF these
and such further claims, for consideration TO TINS
Tribunal; and, also, similar rights as 10 all classes
of claims, in case this Tribunal shall determine not
/ to award sum in gross to the United States.
With this reservation, they present a detailed
statement of all claims which have yet come TO
their knowledge for the destruction Of vessels and
| property by cruisers The statement shows the
cruisers which did the injury the vessels destroy
ed the several claimants for the vessels and Tor
| facts necessary to enable the Tribunal TO reach
conclusion as TO the amount Of injury committed by
| cruisers. 1t also shows the nature anu character
of the proof placed in the hands OF the United
| States by the sufferers. The originals of the
! documents referred to on file in the Depart
ment of State at Washington, and can be produc-
| ed II desired. The United States only ask rea
sonable notice, giving them sufficient opportunity
| to produce them. II is impossible at present for
| the United States to present to the Tribunal de-
tailed statement of damages or injuries arising out
OF the destruction of the last class OF vessels
| Every vessel had its officers and crews, who were
entitled TO the protection of the flag Of the United
| States. and should be included in any sum which
| the Tribunal may see proper to award, 1t viii not
be difficult, from data which are furnished TO as
certain the names and tonnage of the different YES
srs destroyed and to form an estimate OF the hardy
| but helpless seamen who were thus deprived of
their means OF subsistence, ana 70 deterlnhe what
! aggregate sum il would be just TO place in the
hands of the United States on that account. 1t will
not be less than hundreds Of thousands, andpossi-
bly,, millions of dollars. The United States pre-
sent to the Tribunal detailed statement Of the
| amount of national expenditure in pursuit OF the
insurgent cruisers, verified in the manner proposed
| by tile American Joint High Commission. The ag-
gregate of this amount is several millions of dol
lars. The United States ask the Tribunal of Arbi.
traton to estimate the amount which ought to be
| paid them for the transfer of American marine to
the British flag in CONSCIENCE OF the acts OF rebel
| cruisers.
On the 18th of May, 1864, Mr. Golden warned
! the House of Commons Of the great damage which
| the United States were suffering in this respect
He said "You have been carrying on hostl ties
from these shores against the people of the United
States, and have been innicting an amount of dam
age on that country greater than would be pro-
duced by many ordinary wars. 1t Is estimated that
the loss sustained by the capture and burning OF
American vessels has been about $15,0O0000, or
nearly f30 200 sterling, But that Is small part
OF the injury which has been inflicted upon the
American marine, We have rendered most or her
vast mercantile property for the present valueless.
Under the system of free trade by which the com
merce of the world Is now so largely carried on,
II you raise the rate of insurance on the flag OF any
maritime power you throw it's trade into the hands
Of its competitors because II is no longer profitable
| for merchants or manufacturers to employ ships
to carry freights when those vessels become liable
for war risks. I have here one or two facts which
should like to lay before the honorable and learn
|
this has been operating When he has heard
them, he will see what cruel satire II is to say
our laws have been found sufficient to enforce
our neutrality. hold in my hand an account
of the foreign trade OF New York for the
quarter ending June 80, 1860, and also for
ae bS9 91Tr s dSts dpg S When SRRS go ooSpasUn S %aC
made. find that the total amount Of the for
eign trade OF New York for the aforementioned
period was $92 01O0 000 Of which $G2 600 900 were
carried in American bottoms, and $3O0OO,0O0 in
foreign. This state of things rapidly changed al
the war continued for II appears that for the quar-
ter ending June 80 1863 the total amount Of the
foreign trade Of New York was SS,0000OO. OF
which amount $sSO01,O00 were carried by American
vessels, and $60,0OOO0O in foreign, the change
brought about being that, while in 1860 twO-thirds
Of the commerce Of New York was carried on in
American bottoms, in 1868 three-fourths was car
ried on in foreign bottoms. You see, therefore
what a complete revolution must have taken place
in the value of American shipping, and what has
been the cOnsequence-that very large transfer
has been made Of American shipping to English
owners because proprletors no longer found 1t pro
ftabe to carry on their business document hal
been laid on the table which gives us some impor
tant information on this subject refer TO an ac'
count of the number and tonnage of the United
States vessels which have been registered IN th'
United Kingdom and in parts OF British Ameriei
between the years 1858 aud 1863, both inclusive. L
shows that the transfer Of United States shipping
to English capitalists in each OF the years com
prsed in that period Sa was qs follows: Ia lSSS teS
mage 2i sos; in 1860, vessels, Al; tonnage, 63S
IN 1861. vessels 1866 tonnage, 7l6l3; In 1852, YES
tonnage a52, ,579 "a foot.note here shows that il
the year 1854 1906 vessels were transferred TO tn
2 British flag, with an aggregate ton
mage OF % 052 tons. am told that this operation
! is now going on as fast as ever Now ! hold thi
to be most serious aspect OF the question OF on
, relations with America. ! care very little abou
what newspapers may write, or orators may utter
on one side or the other. We may balance on al
I inhammatory speech from an honorable membe
against similar speech made in Congress IN wash
, ington We may pair on leading article publish
ed in New York against one published In London
But little consequence, suspect would be attAche
\ to either The two countries, / hope, would dis
! count these incendlary paragraphs at their prope
value But what do fear for the relations betwee
these two nations OF the same race is the heapin
{ up OF gigantic material grievance such as We a.
now accumulating by transactions connected VII
p these cruisers, because there is vast amount Z
! suffering, personal wrong and personal rancoF arl