The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-06


chants and others DESTROYS of having their bust
ness cards inserted, can be accommodated by
leaving their orders at the Countng-room during
the dav
The refpsoI of the Senate of the UNITED STATES
to ratify. by a constitutional vote OF two-thlrds,
the treaty recently negotiated by Mr.. PRESTON
with the Spanish Government must be regarded
as a great misfortune, all hands, and as very
dsreputable political mannuvre ard clap-trap, on
the part of those who produced the result. 1t is
well known that many claims of our citizens upon
Spain have been pending for a long time-some of
them, no doubt, proper and reasonable-others
gotten up, during the Outrage and filibustering
periods, and entitled to no respect or considera-
ton whatever-but all requiring to be adjusted
and disposed Of with view TO the preservation of
peace and good feeling between the two nations.
To those who have examined, with any care, the
course of our diplomatic relations with the Gov
eminent Of Queen ISABELLA it is likewise very well
known, that there has not been, for some years
past any obstruction offered, the part of Spain,
to the settlement of all the questions in dispute be-
tween us, on fair and satisfactory terms Nay
casions of late, it has been within our power to
re-organize the commercial intercourse of the two
countries, upon basis of reciprocity, eminently
advantageous TO our trade, taking into consdera-
ton our proximity to the Spanish Antilles, and
the enterprise and extent of our commercial
marine. Nothing has been wanting to the ac-
complishment Of results so desirable, but spirit
of honorable and respectful Cancellation and COM
promise upon our side, and we presume it is not
going too far, TO say, that if the annexation Of
Cuba had not been part of the grand schemes of
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT with which parties
and politicians have found their advantage in
tempting the "ferce democratic" there would
not, at this time, survive one, single, real
matter of dispute between ourselves and the peo-
pie of the Peninsula. All of our readers who
keep pace with current history, will no doubt re-
member the remarkable disclosures made by Mr.
PERRY, during the PIERCE administration in re-
gard TO The desire of the PACHEco Ministry TO ne
gotate a commercial treaty with our government,
upon most liberal and beneficial terms to the
UNITED STATES How perversely that desire was
thwarted by the annexationis intrigues and redre-
publican impracticabity of our then representative
at Madrid, Mr.. SOULE, and how unh ppiy and alb
surdly the diplomatic career of that distinguished
gentleman terminated, in the filibustering pat-
tudes of the Oslend Manifesto, instead of wise
and honorable convention between the two coun-
tries, is matter of history likewise. When, there
fore, it was announced that the present Admins
tration, through the energy and intelligence Mr..
PRESTON, had succeeded in presenting to the Senate
a treaty by which so many vexed questions were
disposed of there general expression of sat
isfactiOn on the part of the whole conservative
press echeed we are quite sure, by all right-mind-
ed and conservative people. Until the executive
proceedings of the Senate shall have been made
public, it will, of course, be impossible to state
with certainty, the result of Mr. PREsroN's nego-
tiations, but the treaty is generally understood to
secure most favorable modification of our COM
merciaI relations with Spain and her colonies, and
to provide for the adjustment and satisfaction of
all pending claims on both sides. 1t is reported
also to contain provisions by which the recurrence
Of various causes Indifference, heretofore existing,
will be avoided, and the disturbance of cordial re-
lations between the two countries and their citi-
zens and subjects as far possible prevented, in
the future. As TO the wisdom and justice-to say
nothing Of the humanity-involved in such a
settlement, we presume there can be no honest diff
ference of opinion-and so far as has been dis
closed there does not seem to have been any dis.
pute in the Senate, on that point. The rejection o.
thetreaty appears to have been brought about excu
sivey by the action of the Republican Senator'S
gard to the provision made in the instrument for ht
payment Of the indemnity due to certain subjects
of SPAIN for their losses as owners of the schoon-
err AmistQd, and of cargo and negroes on board
This claim, it appears, was expressly provided
for by the treaty, all other claims being referred
10 a commission, 10 be appointed for their adjust
ment The reason of its special designation, as
an undisputed claim, is very obvious, its justice
having been officially recognized by our Govern
ment under every Administration, since the
year 1889, when the demand arose. Year after
year, the Spanish Government when called on to
adjust the claims of our citizens. has signifed its
willingness to do so, whenever the Government
of the UNITED STATES would set the example, by
providing for the undisputed demand of the
Amistad claimants. Year after year the fact has
been reported to Congress, and the justice of the
claim urged. No longer ago than at the begin
ming of the late session, Mr.. BECHANAN again
took notice of the matter, and stated the embar-
rassment of the Government, in being thus met
by an argument, to the justice of which there
could be no reply. To the Republican Senators,
however, all this amounted to nothing. Indem-
nifty for the liberation of the Amistad negroes
involved concession that there could be such q
thing as Il right of property in man. and such
concession the Observation-Disclosures of the Sen
ate would die rather than make, come what
might to treaty, trade and public peace. Nay
not only were they determined to reject the
An'istad claim-but, the Treaty having once been
contaminated by its recognition, they " oud not
permit it TO be modified, or the Objectionable
clause to be removed. The Treaty had become
an unclean thing, and no lustral waters could
purify 1t. When, therefore, in order to save
the Treaty, Mr.. Mason from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs proposed to strike out
the special clause relating to the Anistad
ana let that claim go to the Commissioners, in the
same shape as all the rest, the Republican Sena.
tors, with the Honorable Mr.. SUMNER at their head
voted in favor Of retaining the article, and then
when the final question taken, voted agains
the Treaty. because the article was retained. Such
at all events, is the account given of the proceed
and it is so entirely consistent with the venemou
spirit and factious purposes to which the partisan
in question habituay prostitute their official pc
stion, that there seems no reason TO doubt its nc
cIracy But, be the precise facts as they may,
is undoubtedly certain that the Treaty n
jected because of the provision which it made ft
the payment of an indemnity admitted, for twent
wears, by our Government to be Justly due, an
that its rejection was a spieful blow, aimed rattle
at the domestic institutions of portion of GU
people, than at the international rights which
compromised Whatever the cause, the result
the same-involving not only the annoying an
unjust postponement of the claims of our own cit
zens, but a still further prolongation of uneas
and unsatisfactory relations with a foreign Go
eminent which has done its best to meet us
good feeling and good faith. The responsible
certainly does not fall upon either the Admin
tration the majority of the Senate, and least
all upon the able and efficient Minister by who
the Treaty was negotiated. Those to whom Il
odium properly belongs will, no doubt, vaunt
as trophy. We trust that it may be fully undo
stood, both at home and abroad, how entirel
they deserve it,