The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-01
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Of the English Side OF the
QuesttOa-The American Claims
Not Yet Fairly Presented.

Not Yet Fairly Presented.
the New York Tribune publishes the
abstract of the British case submitted
to the arbitrator of Geneva. The
British Government states that they
cannot answer an argument not YET
presented, and will wait until compar'
ison OF the cases presented by both
parties shall determine the points really
in dispute between the two governments,
it will refrain from all discussion in
tended to sustain its own position, and
will limit itself at present to submitting
to the judgment OF the Tribunal the
following considerations
As ships, whatever may he the cir
cumstances, were procured in British
ports for war purposes, and were en-
ployed as beiligerent cruisers against
the United States, while Great Britain
herself remained neutral; these events
have been the cause Of disp!easure aud
regret to the Government OF Her Brit
tanic Majesty. This regret exist.
despite OF the following facts which 1t
must be conceded are important IN
arrive at, in just appreciation OF the
question The vessels were procured by
cunning and candestine means, which
batfled the vigilance OF the government
officers. Not one had the least arma-
ment. Some had been constructed as
ordinary merchant vessels, having
nothing which would adapt them specl-
ally for war Ia number they were
very small; and finally the persons
who detained possession and control OF
them and employed them for belligerent
purposes, were themselves American
citizens, which the United States gov
meut has always admitted.
Such facts should seriously affect 10
the mind of every impartial man, the
question relative to the esponslbIllty OF
neutral government. The [ nited
States government processes to have a
right 10 pecuniary indemnity for claims,
which, it saws, resulted from the acts OF
these vessels; tha;is to say, the war.ile
operations carried on by means OF these
ships by the persons who had them TO
their possession. 1t Is evident that a
pretension OF this nature is such that
her majesty's government, animated as
it is with the most amicable sentiments
toward the United States, could not, IN
virtue OF the respect it owes To lis own
rights, and those Of neutral nations IN
general, consent 10 admit, since It be
ieves that it Is not founded on Justice.
1t devolves on the United States TO
establish the propositions It has al
vaQced, to state clearly the International
duty or duties on which they are based
and 10 demonstrate the violation OF
which it complains.
A charge against sovereign govern.
ment having evinced ulpaole negIl-
gence 10 the exercise Of one OF the DOW
ers OF sovereignty. is an imputatlon
which should be sustained by strong
and solid reasons. 4 nation ought not
to be held responsible for Geav or
omission which may be due SIMPLY 10
accd dent and not to want 0; foresight or
reasonable care. Finally, it does not
-uttice TO demonstrate that an act has
been committed which the government
should have ioreseen. What must be
advanced and proved is, that the gov
eminent failed TO exercise the same
amount OF care as It usually employed
in international affairs, and which II
may be reasonably required to use IN
matters affecting international interests
and duties. II the tribunal decides
that Great Britain has incurred any
possibility whatever toward the
United States, the question will then
arise as to what will De the just meas
ure and extent OF that responsibility.
Her Msjesty's government abstalns al
present rom entering on this question
and reserves TOR a more advanced peri
od OF the d DISCUSSION all observations
that it shall determine to submit on
this point 10 the name o. Great Britain.
IfcIains Of this kind were submitted
without reserve, a belligerent could ask
to be Unidentified by neutral for re-
suits which Justly ought no, to be Ia!t
to the account OF the latter, but should
be placed 10 its own incapacitv and
deficient initiative. Her Majesty
government is OBJ ged to point out, that
IN regard to the ships which form the
object OF the proceeding statement, the
United States Government, or its Off
GERS, evjncei extraordinary hardness IN
employing the naval forces at its COM
mani, and that ii the ordinary activity
were exercised 10 capture or intercept
these vessels, the losses Of which the
Crrted States compltln today, would
have been In great part averted.
Whether the decision o: the tribunal
is or not favorable to her, Great Brit
ain is ready to yield to the decree. She
mas only one wish, that it be inst.
She raises only one pretention, that it
be founded on faithful and equitable
Interpretation of the rights OF meu, and
Oh principles which herself. and all
other powers will not repent OF recog-
nizing and observing, either as ueutrals
or belligerents in time to come.
The aIahamn Claims.