Year: 1869

lntiOns Between England aud Americu-A


Plea for Peace.


Last night before the members Of Cornell Uni
versity Ithaca, New York, Professor Goodwin Smith,
to whom Sumner in his recent speech alluded in con-
neCtion ith the Alabama claims treaty, discOursed
upon the present Industrial troubles.


CANADIAN ANNEXATION.


In speaking of the proposition that England should
cede Canada to the United States as an offset to the
Alabama claims, he sad:-


There some, it seems, who wish to press de-
mands on England with view to anneXing at once
her Canadian and West Indian possessions; and this
proposal, coming simultaneously with claims for re-
paraton in the court OF high morality and honor will
rather confuse the minds of our people. | have
earned, at the price of obloquy, the right of
saying that | am sincere in wishing that Great Bri-
tain and all the powers of the Old World should take
their departure speedily as honor will permit from
the New World, and leave the destinies OF the New
World to their own England has done all the
good that she can do in planting her race and her
free institutions here She has reaped all the honor
that she can reap, and that honor will not die. Dis
member her empire, destroy her fleets and armies,
ruin her trade, do all to her Of what revenge can
having founded her. The West Indian possessions
were once offered to you, and would to heaven that
curse from the beginning The gold which some OF
our people drew from them in the days Of slavery
was demon gold; 1t filled our politics and our society
with corruption Since the abolition of slavery
the islands have been mere burden to us; they
nave nave ,s been mucn worse; Jamaica has brought
OF territory or any defeat in war. We could not
allow them to pass out OF our hands while there
was any fear lest slavery should be restored
But now, l believe, the great majority of
Engshmen would agree in saying that il we
could be honorably rid of the whole group with their
population, black and white and all their barbar-
isms and internecine hatreds the loss would be
bOundess gain. With regard to Canada the attitude
OF England is not doubtful She says plainly to the
Canadians your destinies are in your own hands if
you wish to stay with me proud OF your attach
ment, and no act of mine shall sever the bond; il
you prefer independence, independence is yours; if
you desire to go into the Union go, and preserve in
your fatherland. AS to ceding them, or any of her
citizens by way o.compensation for her own liabli-
ic fhnn fghi harf
moment to entertain. believe l know enough of
the Canadians to say that they do not like to be
threatened with anneXaton that for some political
and fiscal reasons, and also because, in Upper Canada
at least, they rather stiff AnglO-SaXons, they
prefer to remain as they are, and that they find the
rule Of their parent not oppressive, because, like
other American children, they rule her. Neverthe-
less the day Will no doubt come when these vast and
distant territories will cease to belong TO that little
island and when geography and commercial inte-
rest will in this as in the other cases, assert their
power. But If the Canadians prematurey forced
into the Union they will carry dsafection into its
vtals combine with every other dsaffected element
which may now exist or which time may develop,
and instead OF being addition to your strength be
an aggravation OF your weakness.


THE ALABAMA CASE.


With regard TO the case OF the Alabama and her
cOnsoTts If any Of the other ships really came under
the same category, no one has spoken in stronger
terms than have. Mr.. Sumner does me the honor
to cite my words just expression OF moral feeling
on the subject. have only to say that those words
were not directed against my country or its respon
slbe Government but against the builders and
abettors OF the alabama The assertion that the
Alabama was sent out by the British nation and
Government connivance is a calumny which no
Englishman would repel more warmly or confidently
than |. We have in the narrative OF Captain SemmeS
an account OF all that passed between him and
the Confederate Secretary OF the Navy about the
building OF this vessel, and the plan which they
formed for eludlng what they call the anxousy-
guarded neutrality OF England-a neutrality which
they on their side seem inclined to think is unduy
pressed against them. AS the English law plainly
forbids equipment, they came to the conclusion
that the Alabama must go out unarmed, and run
the risk OF capture, until she can take on board
her armament in some safe port. We knew the stra-
tegem by which she contrived to slip out to sea at
the very moment when the order Tor her arrest was
on its way. She had got notice OF that order, no
quences of whose treachery the Government which
employed him is liable, without being itself tainted
with his guilt Our Government sent after the Ala
bama to Nassau, whittier she was supposed TO be
bound, and would have arrested her there But she
had gone to the Azores, where she took her arma-
ment on board and whence she set out on her
career Of devastation; and the Government were
that she was thenceforth out Of their jurisdiction
and could be lawfully attacked by your cruisers
only. 1t is unhappily the fact that most of her
crew were Engishmen by birth but in the seaport
towns of every great maritime country there are
rowing spirits ready to sail for high pay under any
nag, who cannot be regarded as morally committing
the nation, even in the slightest degree, TO any bad
enterprise in which they embark; moreover, the
English seamen OF this vessel were for the most part
taken on board for feigned voyage. The
Alabama was cheered and feted by her partsans
and not IN the ports Of English dependencies alone
the artisan quarters OF London she would have been
received with eXecration by the masses OF our peo-
pie.


ENGLAND SHOULD PAY THE DEBT.


MY only desire as an Englishman is that England
may pay to the uttermost farthing any debt which
upon any sane theory she can have incurred, and
thus stand clear before the world ana In the hearts
Oh her own people trust also tnat ba u o s made 10
appear before an impartial tribunal tnat our Govern
ment has failed, however unnentlonaily IN the per-
tormance OF any OF its internailonal antles 10 a
friendly power the payment OF damages Will be ac-
cOmpanied with a full acknowledgment OF the
error. But IL Mr. Sumner means 10 thrust arbtra-
ten asde-if he means TO insist upon being Judge I'm
his own cause, on pronouneing Us guilty, and nning
with cOnndence 20 the reason and moral Renseof the