The New York herald., 1871-12-21

Supreme Court OF the United States, was also dis
cussed, but no decision reached. This is intended
for the benefit Of the Mormons, and II 1t passes will
enable Brigham Young and company to appeal
from Judge McKean TO the United States Supreme
Court.
Forging rhe Members Frank.
1t has been discovered by gentleman OF the
House. whose frank was recently forged, that there
Is no law which punshes the offence. The fact bav-
Ing been brought to the attention OF Senator RAM
sey, that gentleman viii move an amendment to the
Postal BILL, making the forgery OF the frank OF q
member OF Congress a misJemeanor, to be pun
ished by O fine OF $500.
Tonnage Dues.
The bill introduced by Representative Lynch, OF
Maine, on Monday, imposing tonnage duties. pro-
vides in the nrst section for tonnage tax on all
vessels entering from foreign countries OF thirty
cents ton, and the secord section Tor the pay
ment OF "a per ton per year American vessels en-
gagged in foreign trade The bill was referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
Souvenir of the AssasSinn tiOn.
MI. Lewis presented petition In the senate yes
terday from Richard II. Garrett OF Caroline county,
Virginia. asking compensation to the amount OF
$2525 for his barn OF goods destroyed by Colonel
Baker TO effect the capture OF John Wilkes Booth
and d. c. Harold, In 1865. Booth ana Harold, 1t will
be remembered, were concealed In GarratL's barn,
and 1t was destroyed by fire IN order to get them
Senatorial Confirmation.
Pay Inspector John s. Cunningham has been pro.
NOTED to be Pay Director, and as such confirmed by
the Senate.
Presidential Nominations.
The President sent the following nominations to
the Senate today
Horace eeks. Collector OF Internal Revenue for
the Sixth district OF Illinois, George H. Burrows,
Assessor OF Internal Revenue for the Fourth district
OF Virginia; J. B. Odenea, superintendent OF In.
dian affairs for Oregon: +. A. SnnOt, Indian Agent
for Grand R0nde, Oregon.
Post,nasters-Cark Phillips Newark, N. j.;
Horace O. Lee, Springfield, Mass: Henry Roberts,
Providence, Pa; ]. ID. Treat, Elko, Nevada; ID. X.
Noyes, Balaboo, WIS.,; G. w. Tabler. Mar.nsburg.
Also the following to be Second Leutenants in
the Army:-Edward T. Turner, Tenth cavalry; VIII
liam L. Plcher, OF the District Of Columbia, Tenth
cavalry; John L. Celem OF Illinois, Twenty-iourth
lourn infantry;. Jacob r. Pierce. OF Mississippi.
Twenty-fourth infantry.
The Alabama ClniDls aud the Statement on
Behalf of the United states.
From the Providence Journal Senator Anthony,
Dec a0.l
As IS already known, the arhtrators on the claims
Of the United States against Great Britain, under
the Treaty OF Washington, assembled at Geneva,
switzerland at the beginning OF last week. They
as ao,n,ea vc @ to e d eea or
treaty. one by the United states, one by Great
Britain, and one by the governments or Italy,
Switzerland and Brazil, respectively. Mr.. Charles
Francis Adams represents our own government,
and tile Right Hon. Sir Alexander Cockburn thatof
Great Britain. Tne counsel who are TO argue the
case behalf OF the United States are Messrs Caleb
Cushing, William NJ. Evarts ana Morrison II. Waite.
Al the opening OF the session last week the case on
the part OF this country was presented III printed
statement prepared by Mr.. j. o. Bancroft Davis late
Assistant Secretary Oh State, who was the American
Secretary OF the JOINT High Commission. He is now
III Geneva, and presented his statement IN person;
venton, is allowed four months for the preparation
or It's answer the arguments OF counsel Will not he
heard till April, When the tribunal OF arb1tral0n
will hold second session at Geneva. Meanwhile
they will have before them this statement OF all the
claims OF the United States thus fax aScertalned,
growing out OF the Alabama depredations, as they
are Called together with The evidences or various
kinds on which these claims are made 70 rest.
The statement is contained. together
with the references and facts under each mead, III
volume OF 500 pages, printed both III English ami
In French. 1t is accompanied by seven additional
volumes, containing the documents. official cor
rcspondence ana Othec evidence on which our
government rests its various claims, and the
right is reserved TO present hereafter still
be required NO one can even glance at the out
lines of the question now before these arhitrator5
without being Impressed with the vast magnitude
OF the claims presented by the United States, and
also with the exceeding delicacy and difficulty OF
the task which the treaty has assigned to The arbl-
traitors under Its provisions. We do not see, how
ever that the claims could have been made any less
perfectly express the magnitude OF the wrong In
fiicted on US by Great Brilain-a wrong which no
tribunal OF arbitration can estimate, and which only
those who experienced 1t can even understand.