ALABAMA CLAIMS. 03 



cause to approve tlic reason, tbe dignity, and the tem- 

 per of that Case. 



EXPLANATION OF OnjECTIONS TO' THE AMERICAN CASE. 



Tlie truth undoubtedly is,. that discontent Avith the 

 Treaty itself liad much to do in England Avitli objec- 

 tions to the " Case." Tlie British Ministers had ne- 

 gotiated tlie Treaty in perfect good faith, and in well- 

 ft)muled conviction of its ^visdonl, of the justice of its 

 provisions, and of its not contlicting -with the lionor 

 either of Great Britain or of the United States. Par- 

 liament had accepted the Treaty without serions oj)- 

 position, and -with but little debate, except on the 

 very trivial lyarty question Avhether it was more or 

 less favorable to Great r)ritain than the conventit)ns 

 negotiated by Lord Stanley and the Earl of Claren- 

 don. And Great Britain, as a nation^ had, beyond 

 all ■i")crad venture, heartily approved and welcomed 

 the conclusion of the Treaty. 



But, on reading the American Case, and reflecting 

 on the constitution of the jn-oposed Tribunal, many 

 En-^dishmen vielded to a sentiment of undue estimate 

 oU'JngUah law and 'K)i<jlhli lawyers, as distinguished 

 from the laws and the lawyers of Continental Europe 

 and of Spanish and Portuguese America. England 

 has good reason to be proud of her legal institutions 

 and of her jurists, and, of late years, she has Ic.irned 

 to rcirard the common law with some al)atemcnt of 

 that feticJa\wi of devotion which was taught by Coke 

 and by Fortescue. But the statesmen appointed by 

 the three neutral Governments to act as Arbitrators 



C 



