The New York herald., 1871-03-03
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
Visit Of the British Members to the Two
Houses Of Congress.
-~><~N~~>0~-~~o~~>>@~<
Studying the Aspects of American
Legislation.
~~~~N~~>~>>~~~~~~~>~.N~~~
the DINING AND WINING PROGRAMME.
>~-e~~~>~>~~~~~~~~~~~s~o.
the DINING AND WlNING PROGRAMME.
The Counter Claims OF Great Britain and
Canada Looming Up.
Damages to English Property Dur
ing Our Civil War
The Femian Raid Claims Prob
ably to be Pressed.

WASHINGTON, March ., 1871.
The English members Of the Commission visited
the Capitol to-day IN company with Minister Thorn
ton and General Schenck. They were received upon
the fiOor Of the Senate and introduced to a number
OF Senators, after which they proceeded 10 the
House OF Representatives. and occupied the dplo-
matte gallery. Sir John A. Macdonald, who is q
leader of the House in Canada, appeared 10 be par.
tcularly interested in the parliamentary forms prac-
ticed In this country.
After leaving the gallery the Commissioners
were escorted 10 the floor Of the House,
where General Schenck introduced them
TO number or the most prominent
members. Alter witnessing the proceedings here
for some time they left the Capitol and drove about
| the city.
| This evening the British Commissioners gavo
A DINNER AT THEIR RESIDENCE,
| on X street, at which were present Sir Edward
| Thornton and lady, Sir John A. Macdonald and lady;
Earl De Grey, Professor Montague Bernard, Lord
Tenerden Viscount Goderich, Colonel Bernard. the
secretary OF Sir John A. Macdonald and Captain
Ward. q friend OF the Commissioners. Invitations
had been extended to the American Commissioners,
but as Secretary Fish had prior engagements, and
was not able to attend, none OF the American Com
mlSsioners accepted.
Lady Thornton, who Is quite a strict Episcopaan,
Is reported to be shocked at the amount OF dinner
giving in Lent which the Commission has inaugu-
rated she was obliged to give dinner to Earl
De Grey, because of his POSITION when he arrived,
and she expressed the hope and belief that that would
be the end OF It, But 1t turns out to have been only
the commencement ana if the Commissioners IN
tend to feed all Congress, is supposed and
expected by many Congressman. the Lenten season
will be with them all no better than traditional 1t
Is understood. however, that, by way OF compro-
mise, the dinners Will be pretermtted on Fridays.
SIR STAFFORD II. NoRTnCoTE
and son arrived this evening and proceeded to the
residence OF the Commissioners where they were
warmly welcomed. All the members Of the Joint
High Commission are now in the city, ready 10
organize on Saturday, according to the arrangement
made al the Informal meeting on Monday last.
Tomorrow vscount Goderlch and Albert Wood
ley, Englishman who has charge OF the residence
OF the Commissioners, will go to Marlboro fifteen
miles from here, on a snIpe-shooting expedition.
Mra. Fish will give dinner at her residence next
week, when the members Of the Joint Commission
and ladies' are expected to be present.
To pass from these incidental matters TO the more
/! important subject OF
THE BUSINESS OF THIS JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
1t is observed here that the idea which was given
out al first that they would complete their lapors
in sh ort time Is gradually giving place the i'm
preston tnat they VIII probably be in session several
u
THE ENGLISH PROGRAMME
to warrant the statement that the claims OF British
subjects for cotton seized and other property taken
by the United States armies in the reDei States will
be pressed with pertnacity and vigor by the Brit
ish Commissioners, and that they VIII be re.
sisted by the American Commissioners with equal
tenacity The English claims rest not only on the
generally received principles Of the laws nations,
but also on the fact that the United States recog-
nized the right OF the French government to pro-
perty purchased within the rebel lines-namely,
tobacco In Richmond, and permitted its withdrawal
by the French authorities. Il is said that
THESE BRITISH CLAIMS
will be among the most serious and difficult matters
to be adjusted and that If allowed they win more
than balance the Alabama ana kindred claims
unless such claims shall be presented upon the
principle OF constructive damages. There will be
no attempt to discuss the claims for money paid for
rebel bonds. This is matter entirely out.
side OF regular claims, and the United States
government Is consttutionallv prohibited from
recognizing the Confederate debt in any form. The
Commissioner who will more particularly speak for
Canada--Slr John A. Macdonal--comes prepared
not only to press
THE FISHERY AND sr. LAWRENCE QUESTIONS
but 1t now said tnat IL may be impossible to pre-
vent him from also bringing forward the claim for
1
marily to ADJUST the questions pending between her
Maesty's possessions In North America and the
United States. This Sir Edward Thornton's
proposition to Mr.. Fish, made by the direction of
the British government and accepted by Mr. Fish,
with certain enlargements, not limitations. The
claims for
DAMAGES FROM FENIAN RAIDS
ar G portion Of the questions which Canada holds
pending against the United States and it IS SAID
must recognize them to the extent at least of DIS
cusslng them, so as determine upon their merits
otherwise. The position already assumed by the
United States government is that we cannot permit
the claims for Fenian raids 10 come into the ac-
count-and here Is subject for the preliminary dis
cusslons at the startfor the British Commissioners
will hold that they cannot be pooh .poohed out or
court, because the very object OF this Commission
is 10 take up and consider any matter
which presents o DrtmG Jacte case, and
therefore the Commissioners must examine
the Fenian claims before they can come TO any
clusion to whether they will be included in the
questions to be formally discussed or not. 1t is held
that the Canadian side is not weak as might be
supposed. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr.. Thorn
ton thanked our government for It's action in the
premises, the action OF our own courts will cited
IN proof that American citizens were adjudged
guilty OF having violated urneutralfty laws IN hav-
ing proceeded with arms In their hands, to levy war
upon the subjects and within the territory OF o
neighbor with whom we were at peace. Canada
claims that these outrages upon here were COM
mitted by American citizens, and that while
the American government punished these persons
their violation OF law, yet the damages in con-
sequence of these violations fell upon the people OF
Canada and have yet to De adjusted. They urge
that their claims rest upon at least as good a
foundation as onr Alabama claims, in this,
that our government not only demands that
an acknowledgement shall DE made that the
Alabama violated the neutrality laws but
claims damages for the injuries that vessel indicted
outside OF British jurisdiction. In the OF the
Fenian raiders, their violation of law being matter
Of record In our own courts the Canadians contend
that the payment OF the damages Canada suffered Is
at .east as logical claim as the aim for damages