The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-04
MIR. ]. c. Bancroft Davis Continues the
Diplomatic Controversy.
NOTiEY'S PERSISTENT DSODEDIEHCE.
Novel Spectacle Of an Envoy Opposing
His Government.
MIR. FISH JUSTIFIED.

To THE EDIToR OF the HERALD
avail myself of your courtesy to state fow facts
concerning Mr. Summers connection with the Ala
,ama claims and their settlement, some OF which, l
pprehend. arc not generally known. Tho subject is
no longer connected with the politics Of the day, but
to be indscretlon in making public an the
acts bearing upon it, 10 that end / make this con-
Tibution.
SUMMER on THE JOHNSON CLARENDON CONVENTION.
When General Grant became President Mr. Roverdy
johnson's "claims-convention" was pending in The
Senate. Mr.. Summon than expressed
the opinion that mad that treaty been acted six
mouths earlier 1t would have been accepted When
II camo up for consideration In the second week oil
April, 1869, sentiment had grown up in the country
hostile IT, rejected In the delibera ions
upon II Mr.. Sumner set forth at length his views OF
the policy TO be pursued in future negotiations with
England for the settlement OF the Alabama claims.
Lest should be supposed to misreprescnt the doc
trInes OF this Speech which the beginning OF the
differences between AIR. Sumner ana the adninislra-
ton, quote from It. Under the heading "rho
against England" lie said-
At three different stages the British government liz
COMPROMISED, frs', ~ TIE concession Of ocean bel
lieence which allowed the evasion ot the snip
order 10 enter upon the hostile expedition tor which
she was bntlf, manned, armed and equipped; aud
thirdly, IN Ito open completely, which, alter The
evasion, gave her welcome, hospitality and supplies
IN British ports. THUS her depreiatlons and burn
lngs, making the ocean blaze, all proceeded from Eng
knd which By three different acts lighted the torch 10
England mus DO traced the widespread consequences
mich cnsued.
What those widespread consequences were. he set
'orth in dotal under tho heading The Extent Of Our
LOSSES He estimated 'the loss sustained by the
capture and burning oil American vessels" at "about
$l50000 00" Tho loss in the carrying trade he put
al $40. 00O on the authority of a statistoian."
Then said That large these were there was
another chapter whore they were larger far 'rhe
Sonal losses caused by the proongation OF tho war;
md traceaDe directly 10 England" and he clinched
The statcmentby saying 'if Through Brush n,erven
lion tho war was doubled ~ duration in any uay
extended as cannot De doubted then Is England Justly
responsible for the additional expenditure to which
country was doomed;'' and he stated the cost OF
the suppression of the rebellion at $4,000, 000, 0OO
Illus leaving The calculation of this plain the
youngest schoolboy IL ID not necessary waste
words TO prove that such doctrine, II supported by
Tho administration, would have shut the door against
luurc negotiation Tor IT was manitcsty tor Englands
advantage 10 incur the risk OF with tho United
States rather than ADJUST tho Alabama claims by tho
ADMISSION OF such preension 1t may also reason
ably BIO supposed that statesman OF Mr. Summers
experience must have foresecn that England would
regard 1t and must have intended to put stop to all
negotiations.
SURPRISE TO THE ADMINIsrR ALTON
This speech delivered ana lnade public without
consultation with the President and the Secretary of
State. and was as much surprise to them any.
body Nevertheless, from the intimate relations be-
tween the Secretary OF State and tho Senator tho
world would probably have assumed, ana would have
been justified In assuming, that the latter had spoken
by authority. The adm lnistration therefore
forced at onco to decide what should be It's attitude
toward England on that question. This was ali tho
more important since, before the speech deliv-
cred 1t had been decided, Mr. Summers request to
serd Mr. Motley to England 1t Is - disparagcmcnt
TO Mr.. Motley say that but for Mr. summers infu-
ence he probably would not have been selected
Tor tins responsible post Tho President and
Mr. Fish agreed with Mr.. sumner that the British
proclamation OF begerency was hasty, unnecessary
and justified ny facts. Cnlko him, however, they
regarded it as an act PROFESSIONALLY within tho
petence OF an independent political power, which
might (had the condition OF the country at The tmo
made such course expodlenp have been treated u
cause OF war. Not having been thus treated al the
time OF It's issue was, in their judgment, to be
frred to in any subsequent proceedings which nigh
take place only showing tho OF the conduct
OF Great Britain during tho war. So far from tn hiking
1t advisable to shut tue door against negotiation Mr.
Fish in those early weeks OF the administration had
skecned out in his own mind and had put upon paper
the outlines Of tho scheme OF settlement which Two
years later was carried into effect Mr.. Sumner was
much disturbed by this attitude of the administration.
He had frequent and prolonged interviews with tho
Secretary OF State at his house. / remember, too.
that he talked with me on the subject aud spoke
feclingy of his own services and OF his position
Senate, and that he seemed regard the
nncc his views u "sacrifcoD of him by the admin.
istraiion.
MoTLEYs INSTRUCTIONS PREPARED
The draft Of Motley iructions was prepared by
Mr. Fish In accordance with his views. and when
prepared received the approval OF the President and
oil the Cabinet Mr. sumner to the department
IA thing he did only four five times during Mr.
Fsh's sccrotaryship) Tor the purpose OF reading this
draft 1t did not please him. In long ana animated
CONGREGATION, in the course oil which he said that
Motley should resign rather than execute such in
Btructiors, he endeavored to have them modified so
as be in accordance with his views He
wrole paragraph which he proposed to have substi-
tuted tor paragraph the draft. Mr. Fish could
accept IT, The next day he sent another form which
he desired 10 substitute Tor the same paragraph
This Mr. Fish. with the Presidents approval adopted
In part alter carefully eliminating from 1t all Of
the Objectionable doctrine about the British proclana
tion
SUMNER pRorEsTa
The Instructions although dated the 15th wcrc nctu-
ally engrossed the l7th of May. On the latter day
Mr.. Sumner Withdrew his second sketch BY note. in
which he said -
AS chairman of tho Senate committee ought not
In any way TO DO party 10 statement which aban-
dons or cnieebles any oil the lust grounds OF my
country as already cxpoundcd by Seward ADAMS and
mys sell. As you were kind enough u give mo an OPP
portuniiy Of expressing an opinion owe 1t TO frank
TO declare my dissent from the course proposed
l 40 ms III all kindness and only under "A sense OF
duty regret that Mr. Motiey's own program mo has
not been adopted. wish no were allow ed
speak according to ms own enlightened discretion
THE OBJECTIONABLE PARAGRAPHS
The passages in these Instructions to which Mr.
Sumner made this objection ana protest were tho
following
The President recognizes the right OF every Power,
when civil conflict has arson within another State,
nnd has attained sufficient complexty, magnitude
and completeness, to define Its own relations ana
those vi It's citizens and subjects toward the parties
tho conflict, so far their rights aud Interests arc
noe "A a