The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-02

During the progress of the war of the
rebellion, almost from its very inception to
the day of its close, the United States had
several causes of complaint against Great
Britain. So great were our grievances, or
supposed grievances, that only the wisest,
most considcrate and forbearng statesman
ship and diplomacy prevented a war be-
tween the two countries. In reviewing the
past, ii is evident that wc were only re-
strained from such war, between the
years 1861 and 1865, from the fear, per-
haps not openly expressed, that it would
result in disaster to the federal arms in The
contest in which we were then engaged,
and, finally, in a ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of tie
Union With the suppression of the rebel
lion, the clamor for settlement of our
grievances, by the wager Of battle was re-
newed. The south, like the north had
their complaints against England and were,
apparently, ready TO join with their late
antagonists in such a conflict. The pro-
blem Of reconstruction was before the
country, and it was argued with much
force that declaration of war against the
mother country, prompt invasion of Can
ada, and the sending out of our naval force
10 engage their old antagonists, would
arouse the Union sentiment of the south,
and tend to an immediate and hearty reun-
ion. But the north and south had had
their fill of bloodshed, and painted for peace.
Notwithstanding this, we believe that
If two or three of the leading statesmen of
the north and south had united in urging
this course for the settlement Of our diff
calties, it could not have been resisted-but
shat would have been the end An ex-
penditure of more blood and treasure, then
treaty and our position to-day would have
been substantially unchanged But diplo-
macy Was resorted to. Rcyerdy Johnson
was sent out to negotiate treaty and sue
ceeded in so doing but his work, known
rs the ''Johnson-Clarendon treaty." was re-
jected by the unanimous vote of the United
States Senate. Then, after time, came
the joint high commission, whose labors,
known in history as the Treaty Of Wash
ington," were accepted by both countries as
a final and complete settlement of all the
matters then in dispute between the United
States and Great Britain. There were scy-
eral matters embraced in this ,rcaty-some
growing out of the rebellion, others entirely
distinct ihereirom, and others partaking,
perhaps, of both, being designed to estab-
lsh principles of international law for the
public. With only one OF these matters
have We, at present, anything Ia do.
The treaty commences with this state
ment Whereas differences have arisen
between the government Of the United
states and the government Of Her Brt.anic
Majesty, and still exist, growing out Of the
acts committed by the several vessels which
have given rise ia the claims generally
known as the alabama Claims This
Then was the subject, or TO be more ex-
pilcit, one Of the subjects; In reference to
which the two countries disagreed and as
10 which they were endeavoring to come
W. ~ N-i''iiiNHt' W nav were THESE Claims,
seems now y proper subject of enquiry.
The answer can be given in n very few
words, although many legislators seem al
ready to have forgotten their nature Our
complaint was tina Great Britain was not
sufficiently vlglant in preventing rebel crul-
sers from going out of her ports and that
with the connlyance of her officials, they
were armed, relltted, repaired and proyi-
stoned in Others of her ports and harbors,
and soughtsafcty therein. There were scve.
raj of these cruisers engaged in this work, but
the claims arising from these deprcdations
were known as the alabama claims" be-
cause the Alabama was the principal OF
these pirates. Against whom did these
cruisers prey, and whose property was de-
stroyed 1t was most certainly not that
of the United States as such. These yes
sells wore all careful to avoid the armed
vessels of the government, and gayea wide
berth to those sent In their pur-
suit, Tho ships attacked and destroyed