The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-12-04
The AIahamn CIaims-

1he Herald1s Washington special
says: "From all that have been able
to ascertain, the following is the sub
stance Of the convention between Mr..
johnson and Lord Stanley, which has
received the approval of the British
Government, and is now nnder consider
alton by, the President, The high con-
tracing parties agree that allncIairhs on
the part Of companies or ptivate in
dividuals, citizens of the United States, g
upon the Government of Her Britaniiie
Majesty, shall be referred to three Cons
missioners, tO be appointed in the fol-.
lowing manner, viz. Two Commits
sioners shall be named by Her Britannia
Msjesty, apd one by the President of
the United States. In case of the
death, absence or inability of either
Commissioner, the high contracting
parties shall name another. The Com
missioners so named shall meet in the !
city of Washington, in the United
States, at the earliest convenient period
after they shall have been appointed, /
and shall, before proceeding to business,
make and subscribe a solemn sdeclara-
ton that they will impartially aud care
fully examine and decide to the best of
their Judgment and according to justice
and equity, without fear, favor or affec-
ton to their own country, upon all claims
that may be laid before them. n !
Gin case the Commissioners shall
differ in opinion on any Of the claims
under consideration, and be unable to |
agree on decision, they shall select as
arbitrator some one Of the sovereigns Of
Europe, who shall be friendly to both
Governments. To the arbiter, or um-
pire, the question in dispute shall be
referred, and his decision in such case
be deemed final and conclusive. 4
"The Commissioners shall investi- |
gate and decide on such claims in the
order and manner they may think |
proper, but on such evidence or infor-
nation only, as shall be furnished by |
their respective Governments They |
shall receive and peruse all written docu-
ments in support or in answer to any
claim, and hear one person on each side |
on behalf of each Government as |
counsel or agent for such Government,
on each separate claim. The decision |
of the Commissioners or arbitrator shall |
be given on each claim, in writing, and
shall be signed by them respectively. |
Each Government shall appoint one
person to attend the Commissioners as
agent in its behalf, to present, support |
and reply to claims, and to represent it |
generally il all matters connected with
the investigation or decision thereof.
"The President of the United States
and the Queen Of Great Britain solemn
ly engage to consider the decision of
the Commissioners conformity, or of the
arbitrator or umpire, as absolutely final
and conclusive upon each claim decided,
and give full effect to such decisions
without any objection, evasion or delay
whatever.
? T" Every claim shall be presented to
the Commissioners within six months
from the day of their first meeting,
unless good reasons shall be shown to
account for the delay, in which case
the period for presenting the claims
may be extended to any time not ex-
ceeding three months longer.
"The Commissioners shall be bound
to examine and decide on every claim
within one year from the day Of. their
first meeting, and it shall be competent
for the Commissioners, conjointly, to
decide in each case whether any claim
has or has not been duly preferred and 4
laid before them according to the true
intent of the convention.
"All sums of money which may be
awarded by the Gommissiousgsi .sT by
the arbitrator, on account of any claim,
shall be paid by the Government of her
Britannia Majesty within twelve months
after the date Of the decision, withou.
interest or deduction.
p "The foregoing is the. substance of
the plan agreed upon, bat sonecf its
features may be changed before it shall
be ratified by both Governments. One
of the provisions contained in the treaty
is the uneven number of commissioners,
two being claimed by Great Britain, |
while but one is conceded to thef
United States. This feature may under
go an alteration, and it may be SO ar
ranged that the Commissioners may be |
required to meet alternately in London
and in Washington. 1t is not improb-
able the one point may be conceded |
for the other. 1t is not believed, if no
changes are made. in the material |
points; that the convention viii differ
greatly from the form here given"