Year: 1865

W. LII
sructon of the United States and the settlement Of
some Of the most difficult questions which have ever
pressed upon people. the Americans still find leisure
to talk and to write angry about the rayages of the
Alabama and their consequent claims on the British
government. There is no use in concealing that,
far the utterances of their press and the tone of
their private conversation indicate their temper
there Is as much discrimination on their part to uphold
these claims as there ts part to reject them-
The Atlantic cities lead opinion, and to foreigners
they entirely represent IT These ATLANTIC cities have
rate cruisers. They may have made money in other
ways, but their shipping has been gofuNy crippled
Indeed. the expression commonly used. that the
American merchant marine was swept from the seas,
hardly eraggerateS the loss suffered IN the shippers OF
Nep York aud Boston,


The actual destruction caused by the Alabama rep
resents but small part of the real damage: Ameri
can ships could get no freights Will those of English
vessels rose unprecedentedly. Numbers of their
vessels transferred to foreign owners and sailed
under foreign flags. National loss, and in de-
gree national humiliation. have made the American
no people in the world which would be inclined to
bear such things patiently This feeling has been so
strong that Mr., Seward has been unable to give us
any longer delay in the matter While the war
lasted the claims might remain in allegiance, but no
sooner was it over than public opinion forced the
Secretary of State send in his bill He did So and
Mr.. Adams urged the demand with all the energy
and ability of which he is master These gentlemen,
however. found equal ability and knowledge of inter
result was the late correspondence, which. while it
does credit to the political talents of the two nations
cannot be SAID TO nave Drought the matters IN debate
between them nearer to a settlement.


From first to last the British Government did its
best to prevent any subject of the Queen from en-
barking in illegal traffic, and We shall be quite con-
tent when at any future time the conditions are re-
versed, when England is the bellgerent and the
United States the neutral if the duties of neutrality
shall be performed well they were by Lord Pal
merston and Lord Russell.


We believe that the American Government is not
blind to the loyalty and uprghtness displayed by the
British Ministry and that when public feeling cools
sufficiently it will be willing to let these questions
drop.


The tendency of both people and Government is to
complain of European treatment, and there are not
wanting some who believe that serious events may
grow out of their resentment. We cannot share in
any such apprehensions. We know that both our
neighbors and ourselves are anxious to live terms
of peace and amnity. with all the States of the New
World. and, that being the case, that the American
people have received, and will receive, no wilful
provocation. Such cases of difference as now exist
grow weaker with every day of reflection.


RESIGNATION OF MINISTER ADAMS.


The Tribune's Paris correspondent says: The fol-
lowing paragraph appears in La France of this even
ing:


"Mr. Adams has made up his mind to resign the
post of American Minister in London next Spring.
He lately expressed his conviction that the question
of the Alabama will be settled peaceaby. He makes
doubt that some very warke speeches will be de-
livered in Congress, but feels confident that Mr..
Johnsons desire to keep friendly terms with Eng
land will ultimately prevail"