The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-11
The Alabama Treaty.


Of ratification in the Senate of the United
States. This will be a surprise to many
who had hoped and believed that the vexa-
tious question was about to be laid at rest
forever, and will be a disappointment to
many of the best friends of the country.
The treaty provides for settlement on
terms as fair as we are likely to get from
England, or from any other power, as the
result Of peaceful negotiations. 1t submits
to the commission or to arbitration every
thing involved save England's option to &C.
cord or withhold belligerent rights in re-
spect to the Confederacy-and that neither
England nor any other power is likely to
submit for decision anywhere else than in
its own tribunals and councils If this
matter is not touched by the terms or re-
suits of the treaty, we are no losers pros
pectively, for the choice is ours to apply the
same rule in respect to future rebellions
against England or any other power.
The difficulty in the way of the ratifca-
ton Of the treaty seems to be the repre-
sensations of certain ship-owners in Boston
and New York, that the British govern
ment should be held to pay not only for the
actual destruction OF ships, but for the re-
sulting disadvantage at which American
shipping was placed during the war. This
IS raising a new issue upon the old one, and
the process might go on, one consequence
following another, until it shall get to be
as portentious and involved as "the house
that Jack built"
If it is desirable to press these claims
to a serious issue-if it is true policy of the
country to provoke angry discussion and
perhaps hostilities with England-if we can
reap advantage from war, and are prepared
for it-that is one thing. But if we are
sincerely DESTROYS of settling these claims
on fair terms-on what disinterested ar
bitration may consider fair terms, if the
commissioners disagree-and on basis
honorable to ourselves-then this treaty
should be carefully considered, weighed,
aud the sentiment of the country permitted
to be heard in respect to it.
THE INTEREST QUESTION. Last week the
House Of Representatives at Augusta was en-
gagged in the consideration Of 9 bill for legal
izing any rate of interest which the lender and
borrower Of money may agree upon, if 1t be ex
pressed in wrting-but to restrict to six per
cent. all interest not so expressed. After
very full discussion, the bill was refused pas
sage, GO to So. A reconsideration was then
moved, and the motion tabled, in readiness to
be called up at any time.
The action of the House, In declaring to
legalize higher rate Of interest than six per
cent Is wise and just. The opportunities that
money lenders now have for taking advantage
Of borrowers are quite sufficient. There are
devices enough by which the usury laws may
be evaded, and the extortion covered u, with
the laws as they always have been. Practically
interest is much higher than the legal rate, and
lenders 1nd no difficulty in making themselves
secure at twice six per cent Even with the
choice paper which finds acceptance at the
banks, the ruling figures are eight per cent.
Upon the whole we are glad the Legislature
has sided with Antonio rather than with Shy
lock.
WOODEN RAILROADS. In the interior of the
State Of New York, short railroads have been
built with wooden rails, for conveying lumber,
iron ore, &C., which have been found to be very
cheap and efficient for these purposes. One of
them is thus described
''The rails are of hard maple scantlng, 4x6
inches, get on round ties, on which are ramed
slots, 6x4. The rails, set on edge and keyed
in the slots by two wooden wedges driven
against each other, project two inches above
the ties. The rails admit Of bending sufficient
ly to make the curves. The ties are laid on the
earth, and ballasted in the usual manner to two
inches of the bottom of the rail. 1t takes 81
l20 feet, board measure, Of scantlng for q
mile, and 1,760 ties at three feet apart. Our
road is a very rough one. We have Il great
deal OF trestle work, some Of 1t over 80 feet
high, which is vastly more expensive than a
level route. The engines used weigh from 10
10 IL tons. Inc rails Will PROBABLY last about
five or six years. An engine will move about
30 tons of freight, at about to miles an
hour, with heavy grades and sharp curves
The company expects to move over this road
the next year, from $4,000 to 100000 tons
freight. Trains have passed over the road,
light, at the rate of go miles an hour; but this
would not do for freight"
The cost Of these is set down at only $4,000
per mile-but We don't see how it can be as
low if there is any grading or bridging to be
done. But there is no doubt that this kind OF
a road can be made very profitable in certain
localities. The Messrs. Sibley, in this city
are operating one to carry hogsheads of mo-
lasses from vessels to their storehouses, ant
contemplate making i. branch of the Belfas
and Moosehead Lake Railroad.
| The Belfast Journal copies an item in oul
Augusta correspondence referring TO the par
which Rev. Mr.. Knowlton OF Montvile took IL
the late Senatorial election, and puts a con
struction upon 1t which we did not intend
While we dislike to clergynen engage il
personal politics, and while they have no RICH
to claim exemption ffnm political criticism,
enga, ed in politics, because they are clergy
men, any remark of ours that could possibly b.
constructed into reflection upon the characte
of Mr.. Knowlton, either as christian man o
On incorruputlble politician, is unjust to hin
and unjust to ourself. Riddeford Journal.
In accordance with the immutahle principle
of justice, we copy the amende of the Journa
which is tho more freely made, we suppose