THE ALABAMA QUESTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue IV, 28 July 1869, Page 2

THE ALABAMA QUESTION.

{From the New York Herald) The Alabama Claims' treaty, lately concluded by Minister Johuson on behalf of ihe American people with the Euglish G-ovornineut, was acted upon by the°United Seriate in Executive session yesterday, and almost unanimously rejected by that body — one member only voting in the affirmative, after considerable debate. This action of the Senate conveys, perhaps, the most signal rebuke which has yet been given to the post-prandial speeches and diplomatic policy o't Reverdy Johnston — called by some persons " Dandy *' Johnson, so as to distinguish him from ex-President Audy Johnson. The course of the United Government towards England in the matter of the Alabama claims is clear and simple. The amount of damage inflicted on our mercantile marine by the fhmous privateer, through the jealous trading connivance of the British Government has been frequently estimated and footed up, especially in the columns of the Herald. The duty of our Minister in London is to place the bill of particulars and sum total of the whole in his pocket, walk over to Downiug-street, have an interview with her Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and demand payment. We do not especially require the money, but wish to see the national honour, dignity, and interests vindicated and protected to the fullest extent on land and on the ocean. This great American principle, England affects to despise, mainly in consequence of the course pursued by Minister Johnson during his after-dinnar orations and potations: in London, Manchester," Birmi ogham,*- and other places, when lie insisted that >the' .English and; Americans were ';; ; < < !ott6;";pe6 :^le/^; I ,;liiy,ingv■:'iVone idea „] and

policy," and so forth 5 thus Heaving the' inference that the Alabama claims constituted a sort of international account easily adjusted from a common family purse. It is full time that this fiction was dissipated, and the Senate has commenced the work. * * * * * * # Clearly (he feeling cf the nation is thai if our Alabama dispute goes i.o the warpoiuf, the people are ready. What about the national debt ? We may repudiate it; better still, we may p-,iy it more easily after such 11 war than now ; for the ocean is ours. Every sea will team with our piivateevs, and English commerce will disappear. In that very fact will lie for us an incalculable wealth. At the same time we would have some benefits at home, aud these incline us to hope that the war feeling may run In'jrh.