Year: 1870

FURNISH CAPITAL FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.


LOWELL, Mass, Nov. 7-Gen. Butler, in a recent
conversation, said that he intends to make speech
at an early day upon what he holds to be the policy
the Administration ought to pursue in order to keep
the Republican party together and give it new vgor
and such hold upon public confidence to insure
Its triumph in the next Presidential canvass and he
gave al outline of the opinions he intends to pre-
sent.


The Republican party, he said. is not now united
upon single question of public policy. Upon the
Tariff question it is split in two by the backbone of
the Alleghanies. Upon all financial issues the divi-
sion is almost as marked. The party has no longer
any coherent force, and recognizes leadership
Ii gives support TO the Administration it has
chosen. which was not able at the last session
of Congress 10 carry a single one Of the meas
it proposed. The San Domingo treaty failed in
the Senate in spite of all the influence the President
could bring to bear. Creswes one idea of abolish
ing the Franking Privilege lost The Secretary
of the Navy did not get the appropriations he asked
for 10 carry on his department. The army was
duced, notwithstanding the protests of the War De-
partment. The Attorney y-Generals Office was
knocked into pi. Boutwelps financial measures were
badly cut up There was never before an Admins
traton possessing little influence with Congress
Of its own party.


The Republican party Gen. Butler thinks has
been kept alive for the past two years solely by the
unwillingness of the people TO intrust power to a
party which sided with the country's enemies dur
ing the war These war memories will not last
much longer, however, and cannot be counted upon
20 furnish political capital for the Presidential
struggle two years hence. BY that time the Demo-
Gratis viii have fully accepted the results of the
Reconstruction, suffrage, and all domestic issues
growing out of il Will have been fully settled and
finally disposed Of, and will furnish no possible
foundation for the Republican party to
construct platform upon. There is one
question of the war, however, that is
not settled and that is the foreign
question. The wounds received by our national
honor at the hands of Great Britain are not yet
healed and it is the duty and true policy Of the Ad
ministration, according TO Gen. Butler, TO at
demand and enforce the settlement of the Alabama
claims. Here is question upon which the President
can lead the Republican party and mite it in his
support A vigorous prosecution of these claims to
satisfactory settlement within the next year would
make the reelection of Grant inevitable. The peo-
pie wOuld rally to his support with enthusiasm, and
the Republican party would be given immense
strength and a new lease of life.


In reply to question as to the nature Of the settle
ment he would have proposed to ENGLAND, and the
way of bringing it about, Gen. Butler said that
special agent or ambassador Extraordinary should
be sent Immediately TO London, and instructed to
put the case to Earl Granville somewhat in this
way:


We have waited long enough for settlement of
these claims my Lord, and we propose to wait no
longer. They are a constant of irritation be-
tween our Government and yours, and between our
people and yours, and no good can come OF longer
delay. Besides ii has become question of political
policy with us at home, and we are determined to
have a settlement at once amicably, If possible but


if this is hot possible, then by other means. AS be-
tween your Government and ours, these claims
are very heavy. The damage done to our COM
Inerce by your pirates was enormous and the pro-
longation of the war caused by your course was an
incalculable injury TO us. No amount OF money
which you are able to pay would make full repara-
ton for the wrong you did Still, between our
Government and our own citizens these claims are
not large. Most of shipowneIs who lost vessels
were insured We would not have TO pay them nor
the insurance companies, who were compensated for
their losses by the risks they charged in their
premiums. Nor would it be practicable 10 return TO
ship-Owners the extra premiums they paid, make


good TO the actual losers the great loss sustained by
| our commerce in a general way by the destruc-
ton of our ocean-carTying trade. We should only
have to pay our citizens who actually lost ships
| merchandise and were not insured. This fact how
ever does not at all lessen the magnitude of the
claim we have a nation against Great Britain. but
il enables TO offer you liberal terms of settlement
Now, these the terms offer you: We will as


sume the claims and settle with our people, and


we will take from you all your provinces north Of
u.s. They are only burden to you, and must sooner
OF later gTavitate TO us. We want them now TO
get nd of the expense and annoyance of keep
inn nm RuGf0 0m-Ho frOD M
1900 miles, and 10 settle the troubles about the fish
cries. We do not propose however, that you should
barter them away OF abandon them in any dishOnor-
able manner. We will have plebiscitum, and we


will agree TO take only such provinces shall freely


elect 10 join the United States. But the vote
must be taken by provinces, for will have
nothing 10 do with your Dominion, which you
put up 10 make unfriendly power on our
northern border, ~when you thought we should
have powerful enemy at the South iii the success
full Confederate States. When the vote is taken.
which must be done without the influence of your
Government agents, will give you receipt in
fnl of all claims have against YOU, and take only
such provinces vote Aye upon the question. This
we consider very liberal offer our part, and 1t Is
our ultnatam. If you do not accept II, we propose
TO fight.


sucb a course on the part of the Administration,
Gen. Butler is confident would electrify the whole
country and bring such powerful public sentiment
10 the support of the President that his reelection
uould be sure 10 follow. England; he thinks.
would come 10 our terms, at once, when she found


we were in earnest and determined TO enforce them
There would be no war for England dare not 90 to
war with any frst-cass power. The Provinces
would vote 20 Join us if only one OF two of them
sbou1d we should have got in the entering wedge;


A. Den;n;nn unuld be split in pieces and the other