The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-09-17

the $l6, 600, 900 III gold awarded the lat.
e. b. s1a,Gens.A Beard nf Arbitration.
It will be Remembered that the Govern
ment offthe United States sought to
charge England with two Glasses of
olaims-flrst, the direct claims or da-
IMAGES done to individual citizens Of the
United States, whose ships had been
burned aud oargoes destroyed by Con.
ssaeTats Cruisers, Ta;aa Is Tss charged
that Great Britain had wilfully allowed
to leave English ports; and, second, the
famous consequential damages or inju-
rias iaaiotel on the Government Of the
United States by such cruisers. Eng
land d.oontemptuously refused to permit
even the bare discussion OF these conse-
queutial damages, saying, very truly aud
very sharply, that'the North had an i'm
mense navy during the war, while the
South had only few scattered vessels;
aud il, under such circumstances, tho
United States Government failed to cap
ture the Southern cruisers. it was the
fault of its own ineffi oienoy. The
United States Government talked very
big ct this declaration. but finally ate it's
humble pie and withdrew it's claim for
consequential damages. The Geneva
tribunal then got to work, and declared
that the Confederate cruisers, 30 far as
England was responsible for their outfit
in British ports, had destroyed the pro-
perty OF individual citizens of the
United States to the extent of $15, ,500,-
600 in gold, and this amount Great Bri-
tain was, accordingly, adjudgod to pay,
and. as above mentioned, did pay ON
Tuesday last. Now, as any one can see
on the facts presented, ,. every dollar of
the $l5, 500, 900 belongs to those ship
owners and merchants who lost by the
operations OF the Alabama, Florida aud
Shenandoah. The claim Of the United
States was expressly denied by Great
Britain. and then withdrawn by the
United States, aud consequently the
Government of the United States hos
no right whatever to keep or use the
money just paid, but is in honor bound
to divide it out as soon as possible
among the individuals to whom it is
due. Instead of this, it is to be used
for an indefinite period to bolster up the
credit Of the United States Treasury
and give q fictitious popularity to the
new United States five per cent. bonds.
lowing ACT was passed;
upon the payment Of the sum Of money
awarded to the United States by the
tribunal'of arbitration ut Geneva, to be
paid by the Government of Great
Britain, the same shall be paid into the
Treasury and used to redeem. SO far as
it may, the public debt of the United
States. And the amount equul to the
debt SO redeemed shall be invested in
the five per cent. registered bonds of
the United States, to be held subject to
the future disposition of Congress-.
It will be here seen that the first nse
of the money is ito redeem, so far as
may be. the public debt of the United
States"-a plain breach Of faith, since
the money was neither asked for nor
conceded for any such purpose. It was
meant to reimburse individual citizens
of the United States, aud not to bolster
up Federal credit. In the next place,
the money which was demunded and
paid in gold, which never varies in
value. is to be put into bonds. which
may have one value to day aud another
tomorrow. At present tho five per
cent. bonds of the United States are
worth, we believe, about par ill gold.
but when the ship owners and mer-
chants come to be paid, if they ever are
paid, what guarantee have they that
these paper promises in which their
money has been put will bring their
face valre in gold? Many years ago
France paid, or released, unto tho
United States Government many mil
lions of dollars, on condition that that
Government should take up and pay
certain claims of individual citizens of
the United States against her; but
though this Government got the money
we hive yet to hear of my Of its citi
zens getting any of the money. They
have gone down to the grave, for it was
two generations since. and their grand
children are yet unpaid. 1t Looks
strongly M if tho Alabama spoliution
claims were to be second edition Of the
old French spoliution claims, aud if so.
a very pretty passage i'll history the
facts will mako. 1t will bo recorded
that the Confederate cruisers burnt the
ships and the United States Government
embt tzzled their value, mud between the
two the loyal never got cent.
Augusta Chronicle ond Sentinel.
a BARK BUILT IN 17Gl STILL ArLoAr.