Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-11
THE RUTLAND HERALD
The Joint High Commission
Treaty.

The labors of the Joint High Commis-
sion approach an end. The treaty mas
been signed by all the Ministers ana was
probsbly submitted to the Senate on
wednesday, there it will be promptly con-
sidered. There is no forecasting what
the result of it's consideration will be, but
the public indications appear favorable,
while the London Times, it is rumored,
expresses the hope that the Congress Of
the United States will be willing to &C.
cept and approve Of the Commission and
manifests confidence in the belief that
10th houses of Parliament will ratify the
instrument. From the documents thus
far made public, we understand the fol-
lowing to be the substance of the negotia-
tion.
The treaty is 10 be known as the treaty
of Washington, for the adjustment OF
claims of injury, alleged by the United
States, on account of the escape OF Con-
fsderate cruisers from British ports, and
depredations committed by those vessels
during the late rebellion in this country.
A tribunal of arbitration is constituted,
to consist Of Ave srbitrators. one appoint
ed by the United States, one by Great
Britain and the other three, each by
DESIGNATED sovereign state OF Europe and
America. The treaty establishes special
rules of national duty and obi CATION, in
addition to the generally received public
law, which rules, although not admitted
bv the British commissioners to have
been in force at the time, are yet, it is
agreed. to retroact and to govern the de-
cisions Of the tribunal.
The arbitration Of the tribun al may
either award damages in detail or in the
gross at it's discretion, or it may refer this
DUTY 10 board of assessors sitting in the
United States, who shall report from
time to time, the payment to be accord
ingly. The British Government frankly
expresses its regret for the occurrence of
the incidents complained Of by the Unit
cd States.
For the adjudication of all other claims
OF citizens Of the United States against
Great Britain or of the subjects OF Great
Britain against the United States during
the same period is, from the 18th
of April, 1861, to the 9th of April, 1865
An ordinary mixed commission is pro-
vided, to sit at Washington, with an UNI
pire to be nominated, if necessary, by
designated friendly power.
This limitation Of the time is material,
in substance. for it confines reclamation
against the United States to incidents of
actual war. 1t is accompanied also with
declaration on the part of the British
commissioners to the effect of excluding
claims on account of slave property. Great
Britain does not recognize the claims OF
her subjects for the seizure of cotton in
cases where they took up their abode in
the South, az they became subject to the
exigenoies of war.
In regard to the fishery question, in adj
dition to the liberty already secured to-
them by the treaty of 1918, the fishermen
of the United States shall have the liberty
to take sea fish on the sea-coast and shores,
md in the bays, harbors and creeks of the
provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick and the colony of Prince
Edwards Island and the island adjacent,
without being restricted to any distance
from the shore, with permission to land
upon such coasts, shores and islands, and
also upon the Magdalen islsnda f"- tho
purpose of drying their nets and curing
their Ash. subject. of couse, in this respect,
to the local rights Of private property
and the same liberty is granted to British
subjects on the eastern coasts and shores
of the United States, north OF the both
parallel.