New-York tribune., 1902-02-14
GRANT. FISH, SUMNER AND THE TREATY
or WASHINGTON.

!
months ago we gave considerable space to one
of these dissertations which has since attracted
much attention in England, for the natural rea-
son that il contained an account of General
Lees firm and decisive refusal TO sanction
guerilla warfare after AppOmattox, and drew
the conclusion that If he had not then and
so exerted his immense authority conditions
similar in character to those now confronting
Great Britain in South Africa. but far worse,
would have prevailed for an indefinite period
In Southern States There has recently come
from the press another paper by Mr.. Adams
which may not he read with equal pleas
ure in England. This is a reproduction of an
address which he delivered last November to
the NewYork Historical Society, and is en-
titled Before and After the Treaty of Wash
''ington; the American Civil War and the War
lin the Transvaal" With the first part OF it,
which tells the story of the fitting out of Con-
federate cruisers in English shpyards. and
therefore covers familiar ground we need not
here concern ourselves further than to say that
its purpose is 10 show how the English Govern
ment adopted a position as to the rights of
neutrals which If it had been adhered to, might
have proved disastrous TO Great Britain in her
present South African conflict. For Americans
of to-day Mr. Adams's spirited narrative IS
chiefly interesting because. drawing on some
hitherto unavailable sources of information, 1t
sheds new light on incidents of President Grants
first administration which caused intense ex-
citement at the time. were connected with
events of profound Importance and in a long
perspective are seen to have exercised greater
influence on history than has commonly been
attributed to them
In the years next following the close of our
Civil War the menace Of European complica-
tiOns led the English Government TO desire a
settlement OF the awkward questions which had
arisen between England and the United States
through the destructive operations OF the Ala
bama and other Confederate ships OF war At
the outset such a settlement was officially CON
templated here with a measure Of Indifference
the conviction of government being that
England had more to lose by delay than the
United States. Even when the tentative dis
cussiOn had begun to assume q definite shape
President Grant was not anxious to complete
the business quickly, but by that time Secretary
Fish had become sOlicitOus TO identify his ad
ministratiOn with a measure which should close
outstanding accounts with England and ncOr-
porate in the body of international law new
and advanced definition Of the rights and obli-
cations of neutrals. In that mood, therefore
he welcomed the approaches Of Mr. John Rose
afterward Sir John, which were at first unof
fetal, whether or not they were originally made
with the approval Of the English Government
from which he subsequently received express
authority to open negotiations looking to an i'm
mediate settlement. The almost unanimous re-
lection by the Senate in April 1869, of the
JOhnsOn-ClarendOn Convention arranged under
Secretary Seward. which provided only for the
satisfaction of the claims Of individuals while
it may have appeared at the time to complicate
the situation, had in reality cleared the ground
for a broader and better agreement, in respect
TO which General Grant grateful for Secretary
fishs loyal support Of his unfortunate San
Domingo project. was at last quite ready to let
the Secretary have his way, being further and
most particularly inclined to acquiescence by
his bitter resentment against Senator Sumner
who had just successfully led the opposition TO
the Dominican treaty with unconcealed disre-
gard of the Presidents feelings
This Dominican enterprise was indeed.
powerful, II not the controlling factor in the
management of the negotiations which resulted
IN the Treaty of Washington and In the de-
velopment of that point the originality OF Mr.
Adams's paper most strikingly appears Since
the spring OF 1869 Mr. Motley had been the
American Minister in London. To all intents
and purposes the appOintee of Mr.. Sumner
chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. Mr. Motley was not merely Jealous
to recognize the obligation privately. but pre-
disposed TO form his opinions and guide his con-
duet in accordance with the judgments set forth
in personal letters addressed to him bv Mr.
Sumner. 1t did not take Secretary Fish long
to conclude, from official information and pri-
vate hints conveyed to him by Str John Rose
and others, that Mr.. Motley was not in the
right frame of mind 10 negotiate settlement
with England on lines acceptable to the nd
ministratiOD which thereupon resolved to man
age the affair in Washington. Mr. Fish desired
to leave Mr.. Motley at his post though in a
purely functional capacity, but General Grant
now infamed against Senator Sumner and con-
sequently more than distrustful OF Mr. Motley.
insisted that his resignation should be requested
After some delay Mr.. Fish yielded but Mr.
Motley refused to resign and soon afterward
was peremptOriy dismissed. That exercise of
authority doubtless afforded General Grant
some temporary solace, but it did not suffice
Mr.. Adams supplies an illustration of the Presi-
dental temper in the statement, new to us
that when 1t proposed to get rid Of the
Inconvenience of Mr.. Summers presence in the
Senate by sending him TO succeed Mr.. Motley In
England General Grant said that he was will
ing TO make the appointment, but added that
ne should remove the new minister as soon as
he had been confirmed
AS 1t happened the President did not have to
wait long for such reprsal as he coveted He
had. as Mr.. Adams remarks, a quick eve for a
flrr Ii