Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-05-16
Special Session Of the 0. s. Senate.
ERsportsd for .he Baltimore spn.l

crowded, many Of those present being prom.
inent in politics or otherwise. Before noon n
large number of Senators were in their seats,
including all the members of the committee
on foreign relations. Dir. Sumner, the late
chairman of the committee, was early on hand,
and seemed to be much interested in discuss
ing 1.-The situation" The probable result of
the deliberations upon the momentOus ques.
ton which called the Senate together was, of
course, the principal tpPiO of conversation,
but Senators seemed averse TO expressing any
decided opinion at presdht.
There seemed to be little, If any, incliua-
ton to accept the suggestion which has been
made that the treaty Afll be considered in
open session. 1t was q by some Senators
that if this was done TIL session would GER
talniy last two months; Rnd further, that it
would not be judiciOuS, as some Senators,
whose great hospitality to England is motto.
rIous, WOId seize the occasion to Ventilate their
views, aud stir up ill-feeliug between the two
countries, which should be avoided.
Punctually at noon, the Vice President, who
looked remarkably we'll after the brief inter.
val of respite from his duties, assembled to his
desk and raped the Senate to order, when
the chaplain, the Rev. DR.. Newman, delivered
prayer, invoking upORSbe United States aud
Great Britain beIrSds he Of wisdom aud
peace, aud praying that by no satauic iufu
ence, by no errors OF craftsmanship might the
friendly relations OF these great powers Of the
earth be interrupted for 4 moment that in
such au hour as their ruler and peoples might
unite TO give to the world an example of the
peaceful settlement OF create national ques.
tons, and that while each shall securely guard
q nations honor and VIndicate the rights of
every citizen, the representatives of both shall
possess wide, broad and liberal views.
The secretary, by direction of the Vice.
President, then read the proclamation of the
President converting the Senate in extra ses-
sion.
Mr.. Anthony then offered resolution that
a committee of two Senators be appointed to
wait upon the President aud inform him that
quorum of the Senate is in attendance. and
ready to receive any communication which he
may be pleased to make.
The resolution was adopted, aud the Vice.
President appointed rs the committee to wait
upon tue President MessrS. Anthony and Cas-.
serly.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, it was ordered
that the hour of meeting of the daily session
of the Senate be twelve o'clock.
On motion of Mr.. Hamlin, it was ordered
that the standing committees of the last SOS.
sion OF the Senate be re-appOinted for this ses
sion, and that the Vice President be authoriz.
ed to fill any vacancies.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the Senate then
took recess until one o'clock.
On the expiration Of the recess, the COM
mittee appointed to wait upon the President
having returned, announced that they had
performed that duty, aud that the President
had informed the committee that he would
communicate Immediately with the Senate in
writing.
Mr.. Cameron, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, moved that, when the
Senate adjourn, it be to meet on Friday.
The motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont. IL
was
RcsolceoI, That the President be requested
to furnish the Senate with n copy of all re-
ports made by the Hon. William Whiting, az
Solicitor of the War Department, upon any
claims made by tho subjects of any foreign
nation for damages in consequence Of the war
against the rebellious States from 1861 to
1860, inclusive, aud which are supposed TO
be now on file in the State Department.
AT Ito L. NJ. the private secretary of the
President appeared and delivered the treaty
recently agreed upon by the joint high COM
mission.
The Senate then, on motion of Mr. Cameron,
Immediately went into executive session.
When the doors Were closed, on motion of
Mr. Cameron, the treaty was taken from the
table, and was read through by the Secretary,
the reading occupying about an hour.
Mr.. Cameron then took the floor, and briefly
commented upon the provisions of the treaty,
regarding them as honorable and satisfactory,
and as such, he hoped, the treaty would meet
the approval Of the Senate and the country
Upon his motion the treaty was ordered to be
printed for the confidential use of Senators.
Mr.. Cameron also moved that the treaty be
given TO the press, but withdrew this motion
at the request Of Mr.. Coukliug.
Mr.. Sumner followed in remarks of some
length. While not at all approving of some
portions of the treaty, he indicated no oppo-
sitiOn of violent nature. lie mentioned
several amendments, which, he thought,
should be made to the treaty. but said that he
did not desire to offer them himself, but threw
them out al suggestions for the consideration
OF the committee on foreign relations. He
also suggested that the full text OF the treaty
should ut once be made public. In reference
To the provision for the admission of claims of
British subjects against the United States, he
was Of the opinion that it never should have
been Incorporated into the treaty. These
claims, he held, grew out entirely Of the wrong
doing on the part of Great Britain, and he
held that the British members of the com.
mission would not have pressed them in the
face of any decided opposition on the part of
the United States Commissioners. The sim.
Plest ana most judicious plan would have been
to have first provided for a settlement of the
Alabama claims, and allowed the other SUBJ
jects of dispute to be left open for future ad.
Justment. lie would not now have claimed
any exemplary or vindictive damages, but
thought that nearly accurate estimate of our
claims could have been presented, which
would have been acceded to by Great Britain