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

The refusal of the Senate of the UNITED STATES
10 ratify, by constitutional vote of two-thirds,
the treaty recently negotiated by Mr.. PREsToN
with the Spanish Government, must be regarded
as a great misfortune, on all hands, and as very
dsreputable political man9uvre and 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 long time-some Of
them, no doubt, proper and reasonable-others
gotten up, during the outrage" and filibusterng
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
more, it is beyond doubt that upon various oc-
casions of late it has been within our power to
re-organize the commercial intercourse of the two
countries, upon basis of reciprocity, emnently
advantageous to trade, taking into considera-
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
nromise upon our side, and we presume it is not
Going too far, TO say, that if the annexation of
Cuba had not been a 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-
ME 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-
card TO the desire of the PACHECo Ministry TO ne
ootiale commercial treaty with our government,
upon most liberal and beneficial terms to the
limited STATES How perversely that desire was
thwared by the annexatonist intrigues and red-re-
publican impracticability of our then representative
at Madrid Mr.. SoULE, and how unh 'ppily and alb
surdlv the diplomatic career of that distinguished
gentleman terminated, in the filibustering plati-
tudes of the Osend 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 of Mr..
PRESTON had succeeded in presenting to the Senate
a treaty by which so many vexed questions were
disposed Of there was general expression of sat
isfaction on the part of the whole conservative
press echoed, we are quite sure, by all rightmnd-
ed and conservative people Until the executive
proceedings of tie Senate shall have been made
public it will, of course be impossible to state
with certainty, the result of Mr.. PREsToN's negc-
tations but the treaty is generally understood to
secure most favorable modification of our COM
mercal 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 ofdifference heretofore existing
will be avoided and the disturbance of cordial re-
ations between the two countries and their citi-
zens and subjects as far as 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 opnon-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
the treaty appears to have been brought about excu
sively by the action ofthe Republican Senators in re
gard to the provision made in the instrument for h
payment Of the indemnity due to certain subjects
of Spain, for their losses as owners of the schoon
err An,istad and of cargo and negroes on board
This claim, it appears, was expressly provided
for by the treaty, all other claims being referred
TO n 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 1899, 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
Amidad claimants. Year after year the fact ha:
been reported to Congress- and the justice of the
claim urged. No longer ago than at the begin
ming of the late session, Mr.. BroHANAN agar
took notice of the matter, and stated the embar
rassment of the Government, in being thus me
by an argument to the justice of which ther
could be no reply. To the Republican Senators
however, all this amounted to nothing. Indem
nifty Tor the liberation of the Amistdd negroe
involved a concession that there could be such
thing as right of property in man" and suc
concession the Observation-Disclosures of the Sen
ate would die rather than make, come wha
might to treaty, trade and public peace. Nay
not only were they determined to reject tn
An'stdd claim-but, the Treaty having once bee
contaminated by its recognition, they " ould nc
permit 1t to be modified, or the objectionabl
clause to be removed. The Treaty had becom
an uncean thing, and no ustral waters coul
purify it. When, therefore, in order to say
the Treaty, Mr.. MASON, from the Committe
on Foreign Affairs, proposed to strike OF
the special clause relating to the AmiStdt
ana let that claim 60 to the Commissioners in IL
same shape as all the rest, the Republican Sen;
tors, with the Honorable Mr.. SUMNER at their heat
voted IN favor of retaining the article, and the
when the final question was taken, voted again
the Treaty, because the article was retained. Sue
al all events, is the account given of the procee
ing by reporters who are generally to be relied o
and 1t Is so entirely consistent with the venemo
spirit and factous purposes to which the partiSa
In question habitually prostitute their official P
sihon, that there seems no reason to doubt its {
cIracy. But, be the precise facts they may,
is undoubtedly certain that the Treaty
jected because of the provision which it made
the payment of an indemnity admitted, for twer
years, by our Government to be justly due, a
that IFS rejection was spiteful blow, aimed ratl
at the domestic institutions of portion of Q
people, than at the international rights which
compromised Whatever the cause, the result
the same-involving not only the annoying a
unjust postponement of the claims of our own ci
zens, but still further prolongation of unea
and unsatisfactory relations with foreign &c
eminent which has done its best to meet us
good feeling and good faith The responsible
certainly does not fall upon either the Admin
traton or the majority of the Senate, and least
all upon the able and efficient Minister by who
the Treaty negotiated. Those to whom
odium properly belongs will, no doubt, vaunt
as trophy. We trust that it may be fully und
stood, both at home and abroad, how entir
they deserve it.
One of the most remarkable events that has
ken place on the Italian peninsula since the f
movement of the Ausrians across the Ticino
the transfer of the College of the Waldensian.
Vaudois Church, from La Tore, in the Ain
region of Piedmont, to Florence in Tuscany.