The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20


OF the subjects treated He said that he had the
book wen mapped out now and was making steady
THE WASHINGTON TREATY.
To-day" remarked Mr.. Seward, I'VE have lunch
ana dinner together, and you must join u.s." His
man then announced dinner and we all went in.
Politics were not mentioned during the meal; but
afterwards, when Mr. Seward had been helped to
seat on the verandah and had got a little way with
Manila cheroot, he seemed to desire conversation
OF that kind.
'There is considerable excitement, SIR" re-
marked, lover the amendment to the Washington
Treaty. supposed you have watched the current
Of opinion on that subject with great interest ~
People WIN get excited" he said, with consider
don't understand what they are exciting them
selves about Few understand the Alabama claims
question, yet 1t con be explained In five minutes.
It is, Of course, an old story to me.n
''But most people, sir, understand the history OF
the FIRST negotiations ending in the Johnson Claren.
the more recent phases OF the wrangle -
III they did they would not be excited. They
with the proposed amendment to I the e washington
Treaty-to bring up the Johnson Treaty, and have
1t ratified BY the Senate. That was fair and hon
ratincation would have ended all this trouble and
brought about q lasting peace between US and
Great Britain. 1t was the clamor for
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IA term never heard before, by the way or the
ruinous demands on Great Britain that defeated
that treaty Mr.. Johnson and went out Of Office
and there the matter stood. never expected to
get any better terms, and no better terms win ever
perfected was told that we had gained all we
wanted and that the English had conceded every
thing. said, .Well yeu have done better than !
succeeded In doing, and am pleased with your
success. But wait and see.' Well, sir, we see now"
"But Mr. Seward" observed, "don't you think
the payment or the claims OF our shipowners for
the loss OF their property, In the FIRST instance ?
Should there not have been some atonement made
hu tha EuU ph for hnfr Iich< hln Annt tn
"Conssquental damages sir, would be no repara-
insults me and wounds my honor can compensate
me with money, no matter how large the amount.
Great Britain inflicted great injury upon u.s. and in
suited rs when we dared not resent her conduct.
THE SETTLED PURPOSE OF THE ENGLISH
IN the earlier years Of the war to compel us to 60
north OF Ms and the Southernors in revolt against
US, what would have been the resultP Dismember-
resent the insults offered there would have been
little !. Diplomatic correspondence We should have
''Tho United states would have gone to war with
'Nes, and perhaps with France. France was as
The Mexican occupation By u Napoleon and the
attempt to establish an empire there was an aront
to us and blow aimed at republican insti-
buttons on this continent. would have
liked, at the time, to have demanded consequen-
tial damages" with armies and fleets. But the
% v was sex and we
rounded BY dangers. 1t was
our POLICY TO POCKET THE AFFRoNrs
We could not resent We had to do it In the Mason
slfdell aar and we had to do 1t many times after:
II 10 no blot on our honor II while paralyzed, as
am and helpless, II decline to engage In fight
with any ruflsn who may come along and strike
me on the head No money payment would COM
pensate me for the injury to my honor in that
'But when you get strong again, slr-as hope
You VIII get strong and well again-would you not
Mr.. Seward cautiously and deliberately
lions cannot pick up old quarrels and make them
the pretext for war. If this nation insisted on
gotten insults, we would be in constant embroil-
me i we got out q the great peril that menaced
aRS oSer a
would have secured Tie payment q our merchants
and for losses - BY the rebel pv
merce, and II this new treaty will accomplish as
much, ], for one, will be glad"
"Then you are in favor sir OF the adoption Of the
amendment to the Washington treaty and the
abandonment OF our claim for indirect damages,
though such course would be considered blot on
our national honors'
"Icertainly am.
THE POINT OF HONOR.
ut would be more dshOnOrabe In US to insist on
getting what we don't expect and nave respeat,
eddy said we don't want than to frankly say we
were wrong. ! said that when the English out,
saying that for every cent OF loss incurred by our
ship owners merchants, insurance companies by
the English cruisers we should ultimately have
compensation. Our bill WAS disregarded; they
said they ne:cr would pay It.; afterwards
they considered tk.s matter and finally
offered to pay. consequential damages
consented to pay our bill think we are wrong In
demanding them now: Our country, as said, was
very sick when the privateers began preyng upon
our commerce, Dut il you'd have dled before I
would have consented to pay any nation the con-
sequential damages the English are now asked to
pay"
'But, es we insisted on consequential damages
would Il be honorable now to withdraw from the
demand on the threat OF war;"
THERE WILL BE NO WAR.
Why, even those who are clamOring for the rejec-
ton by the Senate OF the amended washington
Treaty insist that they don't mean war. And II
they don't mean that, what, would like TO know,
do they meanY"
"Do you think sir, that the treaty as amended
will be approved by the Senate ~
II do; there can be no doubt OF II whatever"
Here the distinguished statesman began to count
over the list OF Senator's naming them accurately,
and explaining their political bias Logan he
cassed az a liberal republican. After few minutes
reflection he again said that
THE SENATE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY RATIFY THE
TREATY
The hour fixed by Mr.. Seward for his afternoon
row on the lake being now at hand, rose and took
my leave. He seemed pleased with the opportunity
for conversation Afforded by my mission to the
"Nest,n and thanked me for my visit The shadows
from the overhangng trees were creeping out over
the lake as regained my hotel