Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-05-13
Work Of the High Commission.

Tie deliberations of the Joint High Com
mission have resulted in II treaty which has
been signed by the Commissioners and now
| awaits the action of the respective Govern.
mens and legislative bodies whose ratification
is necessary to the completion of the work
| A full synopsis of II -NOvisions of the treaty
has been published, t is said in an authorized
| form. From that synopsis it is apparent that
the United States will have no Just reason of
complaint with the treaty, rs it comedies to
this country nearly every material point
claimed, whilst the concessions granted in cx-
change, so far as can now be judged, can
scarcely be objected 10 by cVcn the most rigid
stickler for American rights.
In the outset, American pride is soothed by
the frank expression, on the part OF Great
Britain, OF regret for those occurrences during
the war that warranted an impression of un.
tricndlincss on the part Of that power against
the United States This is an acknowledg.
mcnt that will go far tn allay the remaining
feeling OF bitterness toward our English
cousins. Anothcr concession by the British
/ commissioners is the application to the cases
punder consideration of Il rule regarding the
bobigntions Of neutrals which has been agreed
Eupon, and which makes Neutral Government
\ directly responsible for damages caused by its
negligence MS well as by its direct cunrivnncc
| This of itself gives up the whole question to
the United States, so far rs the liability for
| the damages caused by rclul privuteers fitted
|
| this character a board of arbitration is to be
formed, one member chosen by each Govern.
| ment, aud the remaining three to be chosen by
| some ruler Of un American or European State
The board cSln awnrd damages in gross or
in detail, OR can appoint board of assessors
To sit in the United States, pass on claims, and
I pay each us soon as decided.
| In addition To this board, IN ordinary mixed
| commission is to sit at Washington, with an
umpire to be nominated ii necessary by
friendly power, TO adjudicatc cases not failing
within the scope OF the board of arbitration
| before provided for. Only such cases us oc-
Cured between April 18th, 1861. and April
9th, 1865, can be considered, aud tlcse must
pe incidental 10 the war. This regulation
| will admit the claims by Americans growing
out of the st, Alban's raid but will exclude
! Canadian claims for damages by Fenean raids
The Bhtksh Commissioners expressly disown
all claim for damages on account of slave
| property, and also exclude claims for cotton
seized from British owners where those own
crs took up their abode in the South. This
| VIII reduce the cotton claims to sum said To
he not exceeding one million dollars, The
| United States Government haying iull record
OF all the iaciS connected with the seizure OF
| cotton, these claims can he easily ndimdiratcd
/ The stories of our claims being offset by larger
elninis on the other side, and the Unilca States
4 being probably compelled To- pay heavy
BALANCE, are clearly without foundation.
The question Of fishery and Navigation,
formed the subject of dispute between the
United States and British North America, has
also been disposed of in II way that should be
satisfactory Ia our side. All fisheries reslric-
tions are abolished, Amrricln and Canadian
| fishermen having common unrestricted privi
| legc of fishing on all parts OF tho. const from
the extreme north of the British possessions
down the New England and New Jersey coast
to lust north of Cape May. Shell fish, salmon,
| sh In th. I'll ND
mouths of rivers are excluded from these pro-
visions. fish and fish oils, the produce of
fisheries embraced, Ia the Treaty, are to- be free
OF duty in o'oh country. The English Com.
missioners claimed thah the balance of adxant-
age in this arrangement lay with the Amer
| leans. which was denied. 1t was finally
agreet, that the subject should b. lefl with u
mixed con. mission and should the decision be
against the ENited States, the commission
shall ix the conn kensation 10 be paid by tins
country.
Bfee navigation for ever on the ST. Lawrence
Is aocOrded,lo the Americans ON Ia east, ard
of the rivers Goukon, Porcupine and C;iline,
| howing nom, British donations through
Alaska, tn tho Brilish.on the west Equal use
/ of allthe Canadian canals between the lakes
1 and the Cult of 81. Lawrence, end, of Lake
Michigan and the 81. Clair Rlais, isproyided
for. The rtghtof free tSinsit toNndfO IN both
countries, aud the abolition Of the provisional
export duty on American lumberpu tbs riyer
81 Clair form part of the treaty stipAla.
uons. These regulations restore TO The United
States all the privileges enjoyed by the United
states In 1851, without the accompanying
drawback of the Reciprocity Treaty. The
provisions concerning the British American
provinces have to be ratified by the United
StateS SenDte the British Parliament, the Do.
minica1 parliament, and the Legislature of
Prince Edwards Island, before hey become
eff otve
III st, Juan boundary question Is to be
suhm Ted directly .wiIh nav evidence IL the
EIop, or, whose decision, II III believed can.
mol fail Ia be In favor Of this country.