The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-05-18
THE PENDING TREATY.

The treaty pending between the United
States and Great Britain has escaped, as
was Inevitable, from the hands of the
Representatives of the high contracting
parties, much to their pretended annoy
ance.
The treaty which was signed on the Sth
by the Commissioners is divided into
five parts: first, the Alabama Claims
second, Claims of British Subjects for
losses in the rebellion, and from Fenians;
third, the Fisheries dispute; fourth, the
Navigation of Canadian Waters; fifth,
the Northwestern Boundary.
In discussing the Alabama claims, the
treaty opens with a dignifed apology
from Great Britain to the United States,
as canded and com prehensive as interna-
tional appoligies ever are, and much bet
ter than was anticipated. Then tribu
nal Of arbitration and Board of Asses
sors are provided for to decide how much
is due to the United States on account
of the depredations of the rebel corsairs,
and the rule laid down by the United
States is reluctantly accepted by Great
Britain that neutral government is
bound to use due diligence to preuent The
fitting out within its jurisdiction or the
departure from it's ports of any vessel
which it has reasonable ground to believe
intends to carry on war against friendly
| power. This construction Of the law
absolutely gives us all we claim, and its
retractive enforcement can scarcely help
resulting to our advantage.
The second division of the treaty pro-
vides that the St. Albans claims on the
side of the United States. and the Fenian
claims and the claims of British subjects
in the South during the war on the 9TH
er side, shall be referred to three Com
missioners, one to be appointed by the
President, one by the Queen, and one by
both conformity; that the Commission
shall meet in Washington, and decide all
applications according to the principals
of international law, and that their con-
clusions shall be final The result of the
sessions Of this court cannot be the as
sessment of any heavy damages against
the republic, as was at one time apprc-
hended.
The third division, concerning the fish
cries, provides that reciprocal rights for
fishing shall be enjoyed by both the cor
tracing parties-Yankees fishing with
impunity along the hitherto forbidden
coasts of Nova Scotia and Prince Edwards
Island, and Blue-noses dropping their
lines into all the bays and shadows down
to the latitude of 80 deg.-a Commission
to be appointed to decide how much the
United States shall pay, if anything, for
the benefit to be derived by her citizens
from the bargain.
The fourth division provides for the
immediate freedom Of the st. Lawrence
to all American vessels, and the ultimate
freedom of all lakes and canals to both
parties. 1t is also prescribed that either
party may herceforth import goods
through the territory Of the other, with
out paying toll for the privilege. Ex
port duties are abolished.
The fifth division DEGREES the reference
of the Northwestern Boundary Question
to the Emperor Of Germany, under such
stipulations and with such conditions,
that it seems probable that he will feel
compelled to decide in favor of the
American claim thatis, that the deep
Straits of Haro, and not the shallow Ro-
sario Straits, actually form ''the middle
channel between Oregon and Vancou-
ver's Island, thus allothng San Juan
Island to this Republic.
The treaty, from first to last, gives evil
dence of great industry and vigilance on
both sides, and Of an ingenuousness and
fairmindedness which could not have been
looked for at am earlier date. 1t is a
tribute to the honesty and candor of the
Commissioners, and, if executed 10 the
spirit in which it is drawn, will not only
stand as a monument of the quiet wisdom
of this Republican Administration. but
also as an evidence that every interna-
tional quarrel could be SO cheaply and
justly settled by arbitration.
The chief Difficulty in settling the Ala
bama and similar claims, is likely to
manifest itself when the auditors are
called to decide who are the rightful
claimants. The mischief done by rebel
cruisers was little greater in destroying
ships than in increasing the war risks on
the whole external commerce of the
whole country. Already we notice
that one Boston firm has put in a
bill of $50, 453, 40 for extra premiums
paid between the years 1861 and 1865 !;
and yet the firm never lost ship during
the time or recovered a dollar from any
insurance company. Do the Alabama
claims cover insurance bills? 1t viii be
strange if such construction is tolera-
tad.-Chacago Post
FROM the census returns of 1870 it
would appear that the largest proportion
of foreignborn persons IN any of the
States is to be found In California. 1t
| stands thuS. NatiVeS 356 2O2- fora;op.