§ LORD REDESDALEasked, Whether the question as to the right of the United States to persevere in their demand for indemnity on account of the "Alabama" claims since the reconciliation of the Southern with the Northern States will be distinctly raised before the arbitrators, inasmuch as the damage for which such indemnity is sought was done by the Southern States, who now joined in the application for damage done by themselves? 1420 He would remind their Lordships that, on his putting a Question earlier in the Session, it was stated that the point had not been raised previously, and that it was too late to bring it before the Commissioners. He hoped it would now be taken up, for the acts of the Southern States having been condoned by the Northern States, it was contrary to every principle of justice that the former should claim compensation for the damages inflicted by themselves.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI understand the Question of the noble Lord (Lord Redesdale) rather as a reminder of a point which he had suggested to me a month ago in regard to these claims, than as a Question to which he expected an answer. I think it would be obviously inconvenient that we should discuss in this House the nature of the case on behalf of England to be laid before the arbitrators, and I think it would be satisfactory to the noble Lord and to the House that I should state the steps which have been taken in this matter. My noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack has been intrusted by Her Majesty's Government with the task of drawing up our case, in conjunction with Lord Tenterden and Professor Bernard, the two men in all England most acquainted with the facts; and, in addition to that, I am happy to state that Sir Roundell Palmer has shown great public spirit in consenting to act as our counsel on this occasion before the arbitrators, notwithstanding the great personal inconvenience to which it will expose him. It being the time of the Long Vacation he will be able to do so, and superintend every detail of the case. With regard to the point raised by the noble Lord (Lord Redesdale), Government will not omit any point which it can fairly and honourably urge; at the same time they will not put in any claim which their advisers cannot approve of as being relevant to the matter in dispute.
§ Afterwards—
§ EARL GRANVILLEstated that he had just received a letter from the Lord Chief Justice of England (Sir Alexander Cockburn), to the effect that that most learned Judge had consented to act as arbitrator in the case of the claims arising out of the depredations committed by the Alabama and similar vessels.