The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-05-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
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treaty which the Joint High Commis-
sion have fixed up, is that it has been
agreed that for the future no armed
vessels are to be fitted out in neutral
country, to prey upon the commerce of
friendly power, and if vessel escape,
as did the Alabama, the vessel shall be
seized on the first opporssnity. 1t is
also agreed that this psoviaion Of the
treaty shall be retroactive as to the
Alabama claims. A mixed court OF
claims is to be instituted before which
claimants must go and prove their
claims. 1t is also agreed: That q
nation is responsible for the violation of
its municipal laws, where such violation
results iu damages to another nation or
its citizens. This opens the way for
British claimants for cotton seizures
made by our military authorities in the
South, to bring their claims before the
mixed court Of claims. Canada, no
doubt, will bring in nice round sum for
Fenian claims. By the time we are
through With the blasted Britishers in
this busisess, We will not only Dot
receive an apology for the insult to our
National honor, as claimed BY Mr.
Sumner, but we will be brought in debt;
as the cotteo and Feuian claims will
more than balance the claims arising
out of the Alabama's depredations.--
With the exception Of judge Nelson,
who is an eminent jurist, our portion
of the commission are set of noodles,
as compared with the English jockeys,
and what common sense our noodles
did possess was knocked out of them
by the overpoweriug condescentiou Of
the English nobleinen who played their
titles as good card and it won. The
general impression is, from what has
been CLEANED, that the administration
will gain nc credit by this treaty, as it
will not suit the people who have been
taught by the Radicals that nothing
less than an ample apology, or blood,
would suffice for England's action in
the Alabama case, aud this backdown
will rot be at all crcditablc after the
windy message Of the President, the
vaporings of the Mich;san blatherskite
-Chan1ler-and the partizan dodge Of
Sumner, as shown by his violent
haransue on this subject--but the lat
ter will oppose the treaty in the Senate.
Ben Wade has been announced as
having declined the proposed uonlina-
ton for Governor Of Ohio, b. the Rad
icols. Benjamin is playing with his
Radical friends as did Shcnck last fall,
who, while vowing he would never
consent 20 be a candidate, consented
Ben Is playing the part Of the coy mai
den and only wants little coaxing, so
as to nfskc it appear tha; he sacrificed
himself Cor the good Of his party, ard
he will accept and if he is the candi
date, the probabilities are very greatly
in favor of his being sacrificed on the
shrine Of his ambition. D'r can't i've
outside of an office OF some kind aud be
happy, he would rather be town consia-
bic than a private citizen. lie does
so despise being a nobody.
In the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr.
Justice Clifford announced affirmative
decisions On the two questions, viz: "Is
TIE .Ae, el Congress known as the
Legal tender Act constitutional as to
contracts made before its passage ? Is it
valid as to transactions since its pas
sage - The Chief Justice, with .Asso-
cia;e Justices Nelson, Clifford and Field
dissent on both propositions, holding
tha; the act Of Congress so far as appli-
cable to contracts made before and since
us passage is repuguant to the cOnstitu-
ton end void The New York Tribune
says, in speaking Of this decision, that
The most serious objection to the action
Of Justices Srroag 4 Bradley of the U
S. Supreme Court, is, that they have
overturned aud brought into contempt
recent very careful decision of their
own court, By ruling, with little argu.
meut and au unusual haste, on the side
az xfik thy haiLm Il Short time Jcjre
Jre4 paaf adr"cutes." so.says Horace
Greeley. Now ( DO not assert that
President Grant did make proposition
to Slcssrs. Strong and Bradley. that if
they would decide thus and so they could
have the appointments on the Supreme
bench, but do assert that prominent
Radicals threatened that the decision
Of the court would be reversed, aud that
it was known tina, the judges we're