The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-02-17
The Alabama Question.


A Washington dispatch gives the f,llow-
ing as the views of the administration on
the Alabama question:
The position taken by gentlemen closely
connected with the administration of the
government is. that the British High Com.
missioners perfectly understood the views
of the American llish Commissioners in
the negotiation of the Treaty of Washing
ton, both from its terms aud the assertion
in the PROTOCOL. aud that. therefore. our
government is nlt aer justified in pre-.
senllug the case as n mas. claiming conse.
quent damages. Ia case the Board of
ArJltratOrs shall not award a gross sum ia
satisfaction Of the 80 called Alabama claims,
this government is willing Ia stand by the
decisions Of the Arhilrai0rs. It is known
that though the British Commissioners had
tall powers, they frequently consulted their
home government, aud acted in accordance
with IT'S wishes in all they did. 1t is otlici.
ally asserted that it the claim for conseduen-
tal damages had not been presented aud
was not to be passed upon. there might be
a complaint by the people of the United
States that provision was made for n partial
settlement only Of the differences between
the two countries. Such Clain was there
fore presented for u iul settlement in the
interests Of peace. aud 10 preclude further
disputes. THIS government has not yet
received the text Of the letter from Lord
Granville to General Scheuck, aud there
fore cannot take any Official action upon it,
There is not probability whatever that
our government will withdraw any part of
its statement OF the case, but will leave the
British government to pursue its own course,
hR %
premises according to the treaty stipula.
tons. Nor ia it likely that our counsel
will take any action in order to accommo-
date the British government.
The Board of Arbtrators, it will be re.
membercd, held their first formal meeting
at Geneva, December 18th, and organized
by choosing Count SeIopsis, the Italian
member, president. The Boacd then al.
journed until the 18th Of June.
lhe Alabama question has taken q calmcr
tone in the London papers. They adyo
cate moderate course on the part of the
English Government 1t is reported that
our Minister IN London has sent note to
Mr.. Gladstone, complaining Of the latter
harsh language. II is thought that the
English Government will answer that there
was nothing official in Mr.. Giudslonc's ut
terances. A meeting Of wOrkmen is about
to be held in London, conlcmnatury Of the
British conduct and advising that the in.
IDENTITIES sho Id be paid by the builders Of
the Alabama and other pryateers.
A newspaper rumor is in circulation that
treaty is in existence, between Great Bri.
tain aud the Dominion OF Canada, by winch
the mother country declares the latter in.
dependents that it contains a pgoyi ION
that it is not to be put Ito operation until
such time rs the latter may see fit; aud
that in case the Alabama question leads to
u war between England and this country
the treaty will be promulgated, and the
dominion declared independent.
The New York HerQH ia making itself
ridiculous by clamoriag for wa, because of
the Misunderstanding about the Treaty Of
Washington.