The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-05-20
WASHINGTON NEWS.

ii t1i~ h0 hl tltlt
semi official statement OF the results
of the labors of the Joint High Com
mission. I'm @T Hs7@s4 =
The treaty is to be known as the
treaty Of Washington.
The commissioners proceeded de-
~liberately, and i'll the spirit Of Ma
tional dignity as we'll as in that of
personal respect and confidence, to
discuss the points Of difference be
tween the respective countries, and
they have ut length concluded a
treaty which it is confidently be
lieved is honorable to both nations,
but especially worthy of the cordial
Iapprobation OF the Senate and the
people Of the United States for the
adjustment ofthe claims of the in
'jured, alleged by the United States
on account of the escape Of conte4l-
crate cruisers from British ports.
and the depretlatiols committed by
those vessels during the late rebel
lion in this country. \ tribune Of
arbitration rs constituted, TO con
consist of five arbitrators. one Ap-
pointed blythe United States, one
by Great Britain, and the other
three each by designated sovereign
estate of Europe or America. Such
a tribunal 50 conposed, of 50 much
elevation and character, is without
example perhaps in diplomatic his
tory. 1T n signal step in the line
of international arbitration, and the
consequent interest LOT universal
peace.
BY its organizationa and Character,
it is competent to satisfy the sus-
capabilities of both nations, and to
do ample justice to the netensiOns
ofthe United States, but to preclude
all eqniyoeationS IN this respect, the
treaty establishes special rules Of
neutrality, duty and obligation,
in addition to the generally
received public law, which rules,
although not admitted by the Brit
ish commissioners to have been in
force at the time, yetzit is agreed
to retraet and to govern the decis-
ions of the tribunal OF arbitration.
The tribunal may either award dam
ages i'm detail or in gross ut it's dis
cretion, or 1t may refer this duty to
a board of assessors sitting in the
United States who shall report from
time tostime, with payment to be
made accordingly, and the generous
power. conscious OF its fame and
greatness, and Of its capacity to
speak as well as to actindepepdent-
~ and righttiIlly at all times:
Tile British government frankly
expresses its regret for the occur
renee Of the Incidents complained of
I5y the United States.
"a For the rehabilitation Of all other
claims ofcitizeHs of the United
States against Great Britain, + of
the suhiects OF Great Britain against
the United States, during the same
period--tlIatn from the thirteenth
of APRIL 1861 To t1eni1Ith DE April,
1S65--in ordinary mixed eenlmis-
sion Ii provided, To sit ut Washing
ton, with an umpire, to be nominal
ted, e Unnecessary g designated
friendly power. This limitation
of time Is material in substance, |
for IL confines the r~eclamations
against the United States to the in
cidents of actual war,
Tt is accompanied also by a de-
claration on the part of the British
commissioners to the effect of eX-
GLIDING claims Oh account OF slave
property. Statements L made in
some quarters exaggerating the
amount of such claims. Ii fleFe
could be cause, in the stipulation it
self, TO apprellend the presentation
of claims against the United States
of any. considerable amount, all
such apprehalsions would be dis
by the consideration OF the
attitude of the British government
the matter Of claims OF British
subjects arising ont OF the war be-
tween Germany and FRANCE, Lord
having III accordance with
the advice of the law officers Of the
crown, given notice to all parties
that foreigners having property in
France are not entitled 10 any spe-
riaI protection therefor, or to excepJ
tons to military contributions 10
they were not liable in com
mon with the inhabitants of the
place in which they resided or in
their property might be 81
51afed ; that they were equally IL
lble with such Inhabitants to have
acquisitions levied on their property
,.y either belligerents that they
,0uld have no claim for compensa
ion On tie ground Of their being
Neutral foreigners for losses which
he necessities of war brought upon
hem, in common with the French,
md that the British government
AN not make reclamation in the
premises in their behalf against Ger
many Or France.
The doctrine of these dispatches,
as 1t is to belligerent
'oyereigns, affords ample protection
the United States in the matter
# any mere acts of war committed
" the United States in the suppress
ion Of the rebellion In the Southern
and it is to be noted also, i
hat most OF the claims against the
'llited States for the seizure Of
many Of which are being
leaId in the lsouTtaof Claims. are of