The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-04

the United States, was yesterday evening quite
0 i'll at his residence in that city.
The April issue of the .Aduocote of Peac.
familiarizes us for the first time with report
presented during the last session of the Senate
s by Mr.. UNDERWOOD, on behalf of the Com
mttee on Foreign Relations, Mr.. Mason has
of late played so prominent part on what
may not inaptly be termed the anti-pacifc side
of American politics, that this document, pur-
porting to emanate from the committee Of
which he is chairman, fairly takes US by sur
prise. 1t is in reality an argument against
wars, standing armies, and navies, and in favor
of the introduction of arbitration as stipula-
tion into all treaties hereafter to be formed by
D this country. ELIHu BURRITT, RICHARD
Golden, or any other of the modern apostles
of universal peace, could scarcely have gone
further in theory than the Senate appear in
this instance to have gone, or SO many OF their
} number as concur with the views embodied in
Mr.. UND EawooD's report. ass
The war-debts of Europe are estimated by
the committee at $4,000, 900 900, but this is
|
ago, and therefore mperfectly represents the pre-
} sent amount of the burden. A German writer,
quoted in Hunts Merchants Magazine, No
vember, 1851, calculated that the aggregate did
not then fall short of IL 1897 ,076, 900 German
dollars Taking the lower amount, the commit
tee remark that 'tarairoad might be constructed
from Paris to Canton, in China, for less than a
years Interest," on the European debts. This
interest, however, is but a small portion of the
burden annually imposed upon the people of the
old world for war purposes. Notwithstanding
the general though not unbroken prevalence of
peace, the cost of the army, navy, and ord
nance of Great Britain has advanced from
SIS, 287 ,435 in 1885, to $82, 500 900 in 1852;
and the latter sum does not include the So ,O00 :
600 recently added to the navy. The current
year will undoubtedly witness yet larger pro-
portionate increase. AS the account now
stands, an English writer states, the inhabitants
Of Britain have contributed in the form of these
war taxes, during the thirty years of peace,
'the perfectly bewildering amount" Of SC, $780,
100000.
l. Looking at the question in various aspects
moral, social, and inancial-it is the opinion
of "some of the committee" that ssa day will
come" when wiser and holier policy will
prevail; and in the meantime they recommend
to the Senate medium course: Is
Cali that the committee are willing to advise
and recommend for the present is, that in the trea
ties which are hereafter to be made with foreign
nations it shall be stipulated between the contract
+ mo- rfip fhat all NH
shall be referred to arbitrators for adjustment.
Under such stipulation, the board of arbitrators,
or the single arbitrator, would be selected after
! the occurrence of the difficulty. Each party
would be careful to select impartial persons, dis
tinguished for their virtues and talents and each
would have the opportunity of Directing to any
one proposed who might not possess these high
qualities In the opinion of the committee, the
arbitraors should be eminent jurists, having little
or connexion with political affairs. If the par
ties could not agree in the selection of arbitrators
and could not themselves settle the controversy
by new treaty, then either might undertake to
redress, according to it's own judgment, the griev
ance complained of. But before resort to arms,
in order to retain the respect of mankind it would
be necessary to make an honest effort to select
capable and impartial arbitrators The least
trickery to defeat the arbitration and at the
time apparently comply with the requirements of
the treaty, would be cersain to bring general
odium on the guilty party, to avoid which nations
and individuals, in this age of the world, will do
/ much.
cit may be objected, that the arbitrators, through
imbecity or corruption, may err in their award.
1t is not likely they will be destitute of capacity
they are it will be the fault of those who select
such. But suppose they corrupt, and should
render an award palpaby unjust, what is then to
be done? 1t is legal maxim that fraud vitiates
every thing. All contracts, Judgments and awards
fraudulanty obtained, to be set aside and held
for naught; and there is a. chancery jurisdiction
provided in well regulated governments to super
wise and annul every transaction based upon fraud
Now, in case the arbitrators should make fraud
uent award, then the party injured by it must Of
necessity, there ia no higher jurisdiction to su.
pervise and annult, refuse to execute it, and pub
lish to the world their reasons for the refusal. If,
in doing so, it could be shown that the award was
the result of Partially corruption, the honest
sentiment of mankind would justify the nation in
jured by it in resisting it's execution by war; should
, milder means prove Intellectual. Thus, in case
national differences submitted to arbrators for
, adjustment. and the award should be of such q
character that Of the parties submit to
it, resistance and war may be resorted to in the
end.''
! The committee express belief that the
United States may most properly, and with
, the greatest effect, propose this policy to the
nations of the earth. Our history leaves nc
! need for new evidence of our capacity fol
} war-our progress and prosperity shut out
!, doubt as to our motives-and our mission as
Republic can best be carried out by intoxicating
to the extent of our influence policy more
consonant with interest and philanthropy than
that which has ordinarily prevailed. So the
committee reason, at least, and they adduce
reasons for believing that multitude of cir
cumstances now favor the beginning Of move
J ment Of this nature. In regard to sentiment in
this country, the committee thus speak in the
closing paragraph of the report:
, 1.-THE committee believe that the petitions pre-
sented to them indicate that there 10 strong reh-
5 gious and philanthropic sentiment pervading our
whole country In favor of peace among oil nations.
This sentiment is universal among Chrisans OF all
denomina TONS in tho opinion OF tho committee