Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-05-19

1An14EO OUUNl1 "A
Oar washi>ston cerrsspondsnss.
WAsHINaroN, D. c.. Nay IL, 1871.
For the past four days the Committee on
Foreign Relations have been examining the
High Joint Treaty, and to-day it will be pre-
sented 70 that compound of education and
ignorance, refinement and vulgarity, gentle
men and snobs, ability and pretensions, states
men and adventures, and honesty and dis
honesty, yclepttbs Senate Of the United States,
without amendment, for ratification. Sena-
tors Cameron, Morton, Harlan and Hamlin,
who wear collars marked U. 8. s., swallowed
the work Of the High Jointers at their mas
ters bidding without making q wry face. and
opposed all amendments, but Senators Schurz
and Patterson, Radicals, wh2 are not Presi-
Dental beasles, and the De- 1atic Casserly
voted to amend, which they IN do when the
treaty il before the Senate. There is no doubt
but that a number of amendments will be
added, as there is great deal of dissatisfac-
ton at different portions Of the treaty; and a
majority only IS required to amend, though
ratification requires two-thirds. Fur various
causes there is being developed strong and
growing opposition to the treaty. The treaty
was much stronger when 6rst presented to the
Senate than it IS to-day. it don't bear exami-
nation and grows weaker, with time. At
present look upon its ratification as certain,
but there is no telling what few days may
bring forth. The looseness Of the treaty is
the subject of general remark, and amend
ments will be offered so as to make clear ex-
actly what is meant and not leave US at the
mercy Of the English jockeys when they may
desire to construe the treaty to suit themselves.
The history Of English diplomacy is not such
as to warrant Us in trusting ourselves entirely
to her sense of right and justice. The Eng
lish are great people, but when their trade
or business interests are involved they ara a
set of peddIers, they don't rise to the dignity
of "shopkeepers" as the great Napoleon con-
temptuously termed them. If the protocol
could only be made public it would show that
the "give and take" system on which the trea-
ty was made means that instead of body Of
diplomats and statesmen trying 70 settle ma
tional difficulty on the recognized principles
of international law and for the adoption of a
broad and liberal treaty between the two ma
tons for future guidance, it was dicker be-
tween two sets Of peddlers in which one pc
cuniary advantage was given in return for
another. The apology which Great Britain
makes US for her action during the late war,
said by Radical Journals to be 10 the treaty, !
have not been abis to find, Is3o find, however,
an expression Of regret that the Alabama es-
capped from England and carried on her de-
predations on theAmerican commerce. ! am
not sure that 1 ppt much faith in the regrets
of Great Britai Rhsn we know that the work
of the Alabam5swsss the.cause Of our COM
merce being totally destroyed-much to Eos-
lands benefit, as she succeeded to it'and has
it,yet. If this Is an apology for our national
losses" so much prated about by Grant, Sum-
ner aud Chandler, when nothing less than. an
immense sum Of cash and John Bull on bis
knees would soothe our wounded honor, it is
the highest apology ever made to government
or individual. Before the "Higb Joint" is dis
sected by our Soions there will be lively times
over it, and BY JuSs LIST it will be ratified OF
otherwise.
Commissioner Pleasanton, in January last,
decided that the. act Of July IA, 1870, did not
authorize the lsyyins and collecting Of q d.
vidend tax upon dividends during the last
five months of that year, land that the assess
ments be struck from the lists, and, where
paid, the Collector should assist in having the
tax refunded. IN the case Of the'Second Ma
tioual Bank of Emira, New York, Attorney
General Alderman reversed the ruling of Com
missioner Pleasanton, and holds that the taxes
could be legally collected. This is very im-
portant decision.,. The amount involved is a.
bout SIS, 100000. When Pleasantoh, who is
one Of the military ring, and they arc all on
the make, was appointed it was charged thai
it was done 10 the interest of railroad and other
corporations. His decision in this case, and
bis oficiousness 10 ordering his subordiuates
m assist in HAVING the tax refunded seems &c
give color to the charge. II his decision was
made with interested motives be has missed q
big haul, and the ring of which he is pro-
minent member do dote on big hauls.
Greeley, who bought. through his agent
here, the copy of the new treaty, knowing il
to be stolen, and published it in the N. York
Tribune, has been Summoned, in connection
with Whitelaw Reid, the managing editor o.
the Tribune, to appear before the Senate
Committee, who are to investigate the ques
tion-"who stole the High Joint Treaty r.
A number of correspondents are also subpoe
naed. Probably the COMMITTEES may ascer'
tain. exactly what are Greeley's ideas as tx
what constitutes stealing; we know that buy
ing printed manuscript, knowing it to hav'
been stolen, aud spriuting it, is "ente,prize,
according to Horace, but we do not knew wha
theft is. I know that be has rather mixee
ideas with regard to morality generally, and
attribute it to bis association, in part, with
~ a..