The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-16
The War Cloud.


Queens speech was read, referring
TO the Alabama claims, and the meet
ing of the arbitraiors at Geneva.
She said: eA
Ceases were laid before the arbitra-
tors on behalf each party to the trea-
tv. In the case so submitted by the
United States, large claims are inclu-
ded which are understood Oh my part,
not TO be within the province of the
arbitrators. ION this subject i have
caused friendly communication 10
be made to the government of the
United States. -...-.-,....
The words of the Queen called
forth a discussion i'm Parliament, in
which DrsEAELI and Premier GLAD
STONE participated. The former
said: "The American claims were
greater than those which would fol-
low total conquest. They were pre-
posterous and impractical, and, if
admitted, will be fatal to the power
and honor of England. "Yet," said
he, sneeringly, "the whole subject is
disposed of N brief paragraph of
the Royal speech"
Gladstone followed in reply. He
said the Treaty of Washington it
self shows that England is ready to
MARE every concession short of ma
tional honor to establish friendly re-
lations with America, and to set an
example to be followed by other
nations bencefor:h. THE Govern
ment," said the Premier, sis ready to
explain everything in connection
with the treaty, but it viii not admit
that it has unwittingly made a mis-
take. The Paragraph in the treaty
is tic only fair and unmistakable in
depreciation Of tho treaty." lie
could, if he desired, refer to the pre-
posterous character of the American
demands, which, of itself, proved
their absurdity, for they were such
as no people, in the last extremity of
war, or IN the lowest depths of ma
| tional misfortune, wiz the spirit Of
England in lheir hearts, would ever
submit TO. Cheers.
Mr.. Gladstone concluded By say
ing that the Government would
maintain the position it had taker
firmly, though in friendly manner.
The lease" submitted TO the arbi-
t 'ators by the United States, 10
which the Queen referred in the
speech quoted above, is summed up
as follows:
]. For The destruction Of vessels
and property belonging TO the Gov.
ernment of the United States, 81, 900
| III. For the destruction OF MGR.
chant vessels, cargoes and property
sailing under the flag OF the United
States, Sl7,90Q,G33.
LII. For the damages or iniurie:
to persons, growing out of the de
struction OF each class of these Yes
sells.
respect to this item the cease
says it is impossible at present foI
the United States to present a detail
ed statement, bat the amount of th,
claim cannot be less than hundred
Of Thousands, and possibly million
Of Collars, on account of hardy
helpless seamen and their families.
". For national expenditures il
he purchase Of cruisers, 81 ,0S0 iie
V. For loss i'll the transfer oi ilf
American commercial marine to liz
British flag. -. ~
/ In respect 10 this item the Uuite'
States ak the arbitrators TO cstimat
The amount which ought TO be pai'
TO then, alter we submit statistics il
respect 10 our tonnage before an
after the rebellion.
VI. For enhanced payments Of in
, surancc by citizens OF The Unite
States, so far as now known, 81 o.
20.
VII. For prolongation of q civ
. war, the addition of large sum t
, The cost thereof, and of the suppress
sion of the rebellion.
TAs 10 this item, the United S;atC
I claim that after the battle of Gettgs
burg offensive operations by the il
surgents were conducted only at sci
through the Anglo Confederate cru
+; sers, with the hope of involving thj
: country in a war with Great Britial
y ind that the latter ought in equity (
reimburse the United States for tn
expense thereby entailed upon them
VIII. Interest upon all the claim
6 up to the day when the award is pay
Q ehle by the terms of the treat!
, which is twelve months after tll
; date of the award, at the usual rat
of interest in the city Of New lorl
where mos: of the claims of indiyid
c aaIs arc held, which is seven pc
cent. per annum. The United State
claim that interest should be comIu
= ted from an average day, say July
II THE London Times makes the TO
, towing remark Oh the above cease"
: If the American claims were at
r mitted there is nothing TO prevel
, any neutral bcitfg call upon TO pay
!arge share in The expenses of an
Future war: for, suppose one vcss(
20 escape from its barbOrs, who sha
: say how far that one paralyzed To
commerce of the belligcrent, OF inter
rupted his supplies, or diverted th
efforts of his navy, or assisted III
adversary, and 80 prolonged the con
' test? Indeed, the very vaguencss @
1 these demands, and the impossibilit
estimating she damage and apPor
tioning The compensation, show thei
unsnundness. suppose The Ameri
, can government were actually 10 re
ceivC from ours round sum for dis
:ribu;ion among those who had sui
, fcred by the interruption of Amcri
can commerce, by what process
would it select the persons VIII
should receive compensation and ap
: portion the payment 10 their rcspec
i've loses? To what extent did th
Alabama and the Florida, assunin;
that We arc liable for their Jnisdeed:
leng:nen the war? How many days
weeks, months, or years was the con
, ;eSt prolonged by III; pecuniary los
r inflicted on the North, the diversiol
of its cruisers, or the moral innuenc
on the Confederstes of the suppose,
sympathy of the British government
= Ii is plain that we are here in III
most nebuious regions OF hypothcsi;
and the only reasonable course is &
= refuse 10 recognize liability for sucl
indirect and remote consequence.
6 SEVERAL weeks ago the Unite,