The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-01-01
Peaceful Arbitralnent Of Nations.

Mr.. Winthrop, Senator from Massa'
chusetis, recently presented in the U. S.
Senate a memorial from the American
Peace Society of very considerable in
terest. The petitioners call the atien-
tion Of Congress to the desirableness Of
substituting for war, III case of mterna-
tional difficulties, the plan Of lnterna>
tional treaties, binding the contracting
parties TO refer TO arbitraiors, chosen by
themselves, such controversies as may
hereafter arise between them and which
they may not be able 10 settle satislacto
rily by negotiation.
In favor of this proposal, the petition
ers urge the confederation, that between
two and three hundred thousand persons
in Great Britain have recently pelliioned d
Parliament in favor Of such treaties
and that the petitioners were respectfully
heard by the House, and particularly by
her Males,y's Cabinet Ministers also,
tha, Lord John Russell, in an interview
with deputation from the Peace Con-
gress held at Brussels near the close OF
lS49, had expressed the readiness Of the
British Government 10 entertain with ia
yor proposition from our own Govern
ment for the adjustment of all future dIl
hcultles between them by reference, IN
the last resort, to umpires mutually cho'
sen.
Mr.. Winthrop accompanied this me-
mortal with some appropriate remarks,
cornmendatory of the plan proposed,
saying
81 take great pleasure in presenting
this memorial, and in having such an
occasion for expressing my cordial con'
currence in its general purpose. and
views have alUsy, believed that ar
bitration presented the best substitute for
war, though there ma, be some cases,
perhaps, where it might not be easily or
satisfactorily applied. yentured to ex-
pres, this opinion duriog the pendency
of the Oregon controversy five or six
years ago, in series Of resolution. Of
tered in the other House.
"And it is a somewhat striking and en-
couraging circumstance that, although
the administration Of President Polk so
resolutely refused the overtures for arb-
tralion upon this question which were
soon after made to them by the British
Government, the same Administration
incorporated into The late treaty ui peace
with Mexico the precise ilea which this
memorial suggests.
"lImay he also permitted 10 mention, as
all ausplcious circumstance, III the same
connection, that the present Secretary Of
State { Mr.. Webster) has recently given
the most satisfactory evidence Of his
views upon this subject, by proposing ar
biirdiion for the settlement Of long
vexed question between the United States
and Portugal. |: is well understood that
tha case ofihe Ge8crdI armstrong. which
seemed likely few months ego to dis
turb the amicable relations Of the two
countries, has been referred to the de-
cson Of the President of the Rcpuil c
If France
After som remarks from Mr. Badger,
of North Carolina, the memorial was
referred 20 the Committee on Foreign
Relations,
This is good beginning and we most
heartily desire iha, i, may be followed
up by petitions from all quarters, and
that the day may speedily come when i;
shall no longer be deemed necessary for
nations TO adjust their difficulties By fight
ing, any more Than it is fox individuals
TO dispose Of their dsagreenenis by lrll
Of battle. These are alike the relies ct
less civilized ages. Boston Tyayciia