The New York herald., 1871-02-17
The Probable Upshot of the Joint
Convention.
England to Withdraw Her Flag
from Our Continent.
The Damages by the Alabama Estimated at
Fifteen Million Dollars.
Something More Than Money TO be De-
manded by the United States.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 1871.
The State Department is busiiy engaged In ar
ranging for convenient reference all the information
in our archives bearing upon the Alabama the
fishery and every other question or difference be-
tween the United States and Great Britain, wth a
view to the approaching
MEETING OF THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
Leading men, without distinction OF party, here
are beginning to properly appreciate the magnitude
and the vast Importance of the work devolying on
that High Commission. They see how much the
honor and interests Of the United States depend
Dn the capacity and frmness or the men who
nave been chosen to represent this country. The
fact tnat all questions OF difference shall come mp
Tor consideration and adjustment attracts the
most serious attention OF thinking men to the char
acter OF our claims and the of The injuries we
have received by reason OF the course pursued to-
ward us by England. 1t is held that. should Eng
land attempt to put forward the fishery question
the one Of
MOST IMPORTANCE TO BE SETTLED,
and assume that or the socalled Alabama claims
and the complicated questions growing out OF it,
rs well as the other subjects OF dispute to be only
Incidental there Is no hope, If our Commissioners
do their duty, that The joint Commission will come
10 any satisfactory conclusion. II is also held that
the whole question OF England's unfriendy attitude
Toward us during the rebellion must be brought
Forward for discussion. 1t is supposed
That the representatives OF England viii
endeavor TO evade this question: but it is DETER
mine, tnat the representatives OF the United States
Shall insist upon It's complete consideration. Fifteen
millions Of dollars is the computed sum that citi-
Zens OF the United States have lost by the destrIc.
ton OF American merchant vessels by the Alabama
pnd kindred cruisers. This amount 1t is said, may
be more than Offset by counter claims OF British
subjects. A settlement OF the Alabama question on
such basis 1t is held, would not be satisfactory to
the United States. The destruction OF our CON-
merce on the ocean, the prolongation OF the war
bnd the important questions Involved In the conse
4uences to us OF Great Britain's course VIII be
brought into the account.
SOMETHING MORE THAN MERE MONEY
will be demanded. On this point 1t is argued that
all rhe gold in the Bank of England and oil the
money-that England can command could not begin
to be sufficient reparaton for the damage she has
done US. Shrewd diplOmatlsts here assert that
Great Britain Is wen aware of this, and that her
Maesty's Commissioners Will come prepared to
assent, though 1t may be with reluctance, to the
demands the United States viii make. England,
they say, cannot afford to remain much longer
nt issue with us. European complications Will COM
pei her to come to terms and her commissioners
cannot afford to return without settling the ques-
lions they are coming TO discuss Without entering
Into details as to the probable manner in which the
spccic questions Will be adjusted, it is the opinion
Of prominent people here that satisfactory solu-
tion OF the questions can be made unless Great
Britain consents to withdraw her nag forever from
the American continent Distinguished public
men or both parties are privately pledged to
this as the true American policy. On this point
many republicans and democrats are united. The
Irish element throughout the country IS committed
foit. II is understood that Congress will soon be
called upon to declare that arrangement to settle
Our differences With Great Britain will be satsfac-
tory to the United States so long Great Britain
taius
HER FLAG UPON THIS CONTINENT.
!. The relations which her North American possess
sions now bear to the mother country they say,
will permit England to gracefully withdraw the
British banner from America. JOhn Bull may growl
at rst and repudate the idea Of entertaining such
D policy. Her Majesty's commissioners Will un.
houbtedly exhaust all the arts and schemes OF
diplomacy In which they are well versed, to con.
Cude the best bargain they can makes but 1t is held
that II Commissioners have the frmness to resist
the Establishments OF British diplomacy and refuse
TO be captured By what. an influential individual
calls sthe polished perf;dy OF British aristocracy
sioners have, deep down In their pockets, plenary
powers TO make such CONCESSIONS "a will bring about
q sure and satisfactory settlement There are some
fears that Mr.. Fish, by reason of his well known
aristocratic tendencies, may be outwitted by the
willy Briiishers. The sight Of Earl De Grey may
make HIM melt Immediately.
/ 1t Is SAID that Mr.. Fishs ambition is to secure
settlement Of differences with England and ther
go over as Minister to the Court Of ST. James, Will
the prestige OF such settlement, 10 ENJOY the bless
1ngs of English hospitality. This would also sui
the tastes and tendencies Of Mrs. Fish, who has
so carefully cultivated the graces of social life ant
who would shine IN company with the nobility, th'
Queen and all the royal family. Though the demo
Gratis opposed the st. Domingo scheme upon tn,
ground OF party policy they believe the doctrine
MANIFEST DESTINY.
Il is one or the settled principles OF their party
Prominent republicans will join with them up0I
tins principle with reference to the settlement o.
our differences with England, so that attention Il
now turned toward the popular Idea of the with
drawal of the emblem Of English sovereignty from
the Continent OF America, with the ultimate ant
natural result OF the acquisition OF Canada and tn
whole Northwestern Territory by the free will o
che nhabitants.
Powers and Duties of the British comrnis
acknowledgements Communication by
Gable.
LONDON Feb. 16, 1871.
During the session Of the House Of Commons thi
evening hlr. Gladstone made some explanations IL
regard to the AngloAmercan Joint Commission.
was empowered to discuss amicably all differences
Any difficulties arising during the progress Of til
negotiations were to be referred to the home gov
eminent by cable telegram ana instructions wouls
be returned the same way.
Sir JeI,n A. NTacdonald's ID Dcpartare tor Vast,
ingfon.
OTTAWA, Ont, Feb. 10, 1871
sir Jcha A. Macdonald, member OF the High Com
mission, leaves Tor Washington on the 1st OF March
Sir George f. Cartier viii lie leader in the Hons
during lila absence.
The IsAsa chusetts Legislature snd IN
Fishery Question.
BOSTON, Feb. 10, 1871.