The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-11


exile in Europe 70 Dc justly apprehensise
o. and responsive 70 the pahaic sstuation
add rs necessities n the close Of the
rebellion. That =. Motley had Ted the life
Of literary reeIuse ard historical critic
too many years IN foreign land 10 make
successful diplomatist- Nevertheless.
Grant waived his objections and maize
the appointment. rs ne distinctly said, 20
crafty Senator Sumner. for whose chsrac-
Ter ard reputation as an old and eminent
statesman he sincerely wished TO show
respect
When the Aiahsrna claims came up for
discussion In the senate after the war,
sumner spoke and acted like mailman
who vas determined there should be sar
with England. His famous speech in the
senate concerning the Alabama claims
was 30 outrageous IN expression and 90
utterly untenable that Grant instructed
Secretary Fish promptly TO dissvow to
Lord Clarendon all sympathy or agree
mcnt on part OF bis administration Tor
Summers infiammatory speech. Minister
Motley was recalled because he persisted
in dlsobeying the instructions OF the
president and Secretary Fish. who were
officially responsible for the success or
failure of the negotiations in settlement
Of the Alabama claims, and preferring to
follow the irresponsible Instructions Of
his friend. Senator Summer. When Grant
finally resolved to recall Motley, Sumner
waited upon the president and said: II do
not come here 10 request the retention OF
Mr.. Motley, but 10 demand H."
The treaty Of Washington vas negoti-
ated by commission which included the
Marquis Of Rlpon. Sir Edward Thornton.
Judge George H. Williams. of Oregon;
Gen. schenck, Judge Nelson. Secretary
Fish and Judge Z. K. Hoar. Mr.. Sumner.
then chairman Of the committee on foreign
affairs, was not cordial to this treaty.
which provided for the settlement OF the
Alabama claims by the celebrated Geneva
tribunal. and was very angry because
Gen. Grant and Secretary Fish promptly
oyerruled one OF his suggestions that
'.the first condition Of peace with England
should be the withdrawal of her flag from
the North American continent" Presi-
dent Grant fairly described this crazy
proposition a. "a declaration OF war, and
/ want peace. not war;" Summer sue
cecded, however. in nearly killing the pur-
pose Of the Geneva tribunal in the outset
by getting the so-called indirect claims"
included In the American case. This
meant an absurd claim for limitless dam
ages for indirect losses caused by the Ala
hama, such as loss of trade transferred TO
English vessels, increased rates of in
surance. and ell imaginable losses
Of any description incident to the
prolongstion Of the war. Grant and Fish
were both personally opposed to tho pres
entation Of this absurd claim for indirect
damages. Grant said England would not
consider them for moment. Mr.. Fish
agreed with this view. but said that IL was
impol,tic 20 offend Mr. Sumner. occupy
ing as he did formidable position as
chairman Of the committee on foreign
affairs: that the best way of getting rid OF
Summers opposition to the treaty was to
let the indirect claims 60 before the
Geneva arbitration. Grant in his "Me-
moirs." says: 1T is always mistake TO
say more than .you mean, and as we never
meant the indirect claims we should not
have presented them, even to please Mr..
Sumner
The excitement in England was intense;
the American government had at last TO
withdraw the claims and the Geneva arbi-
traitors of their own free motion declared
that all such claims were invalid and con-
trsry 10 international law. And al this
was the consequence of Grant and Fish
trying 10 avoid rupture with Sumner,
!, who. useful as a moral agitator against
slavery, was most obstinate in all matters
of practical legislation. Sumner finally
became so hostile to the administration
that he refused to recognize either
President Grant or Secretary Fish
even when the committee Of for
eign affairs was obliged 20 officially
meet them for the transaction of public
business. Sumner was demonstrated with
in vain for ibis conduct by his associates
upon the committee end finally he was
deposed from his place upon the CON-
mittee for the sole reason that the COM
mistee could not in decent respect for the
president or the secretary OF state con-
time Mr.. Sumner ne chairman when he
refused to speak to them in official inter-
| course.
These statements are authentic, and
were made at the time by an eminent ex-
| United States senator from New England,
| who was then member OF the committee
on4 foreign relations and approved of the
! deposition of Sumner and assisted in its
| execution by his voice and his vote.
| Sumner in his rage made q shameful
speech in the senate. in winch he de-
| nounced Grant as - Borgia, Farnese or
Barberini, founding q family by Offices
and endowments. Cesar plotting against
the peace and life of the republic" This
/ same Mr. Summer in 1876 denounced his
lifelong friend. Robert G. Winthrop. who
voted 70. the Mexican war bill. in language
of similar estrayaganee. when he said:
surely this is no common act II can.
not be forgotten ON earth, 10 must be re-
| membered in heaven. Blood Blood il
| on the hands of the representative from
Boston. Not all great Neptune's ocean
can wash them clean"