The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-11
TNE TREAlY gP WASHINGTON
Meeting Of the Senate in Extra
ordinary Session.
The Treaty Sent i'm by the
President.
Deliberations of the Senate in
Executive Session.
Views Of Senators Cameron and
Sumner.
-~~~~-~--~>~-~-
Mr.. Cameron Proposes to Make
the Treaty Public.
Amendments to be Proposed by
Mr.. Sumner.
OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES POINTED OUT.
Mr.. Cameron Proposes to Make
the Treaty Public.
Amendments to be Proposed by
Mr.. Sumner.
OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES POINTED OUT.
ENGLISH OPINION OF TIE TREATY.

ENGLISH OPINION OF TIE TREATY.
WASHINGTON, May 10--Midnieht.
The meeting OF the Senate to-day was not attended
with any remarkable Incidents At the opening OF
the session there was more than quorum OF Sena-
tors present. forty -four out Of the seventy
Many of the aDscntees arrived this evening" and 1t s
expected tina, by Friday there will be full Senate.
There was q good deal 81 lanvdsnaSing and
congratulations among Senators before the
body met, but very little was said about
the treaty, for the reason that few Senators had
seen 1t. The majority Of them dd not seem to take
much stock in the official synopsis Of the treaty
written by Caleb Cushing and issued officially from
the State Department a few days ago. Several Sem
ators said they did not know it was an official
statement, tor the reason that they had read the
same thing, or something very like 1t, In the
HERALD week or two ago, and they
had been informed that Secretary Fish and
Earl dc Grey wished it. understood that nothing
that appeared III the newspapers about the treaty
or the work Of Inc Commission was entitled to
Credence
The next ques lon naturally arising in the minds
Of Senators was, why 1t was considered necessary
to proinulgate this Official synopsis, and the con-
cluson reached was that 1t was INTENDED to
make an argument In favor OF its rat
ncation in advance OF the meeting or
the Senate. The general opinion was that
ltwoud have been better to have published the full
text OF the treaty go that Senator's ana the people,
who are equally interest cd, might have judged OF
the wisdom and expediency OF its provisions for
themselves.
OPENING OF THE SENATE
Thc Senate was called to order By the Vice
President precisely at noon. Rev. DR.. Newman,
the chaplain, opened the session with prayer al,-
propriate 10 the occasion. Most Of the Senator'S
looked unusually lions, II the prayer made good
impression upon them.
TIE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
converting the Senate was read, after which reso.
luton was offered by Senator Anthony Informing
the President that the Senate was In session ana
would be pleased to receive any communication he
had 10 make.
Mr.. Cameron moved that when the Senate adjourn
to-day II adjourn until Friday. Then there was
recess until one O'Clock.
RECEPTION OF THE TREATY.
Shortly after that hour General Porter the Prcsl-
dents private secretary, appeared with the treaty,
and Cameron Immediately moved TO 60 into execu-
tive session. Tue galleries were then cleared ana
the Senate was alone with the momentous treaty.
The document was read at length, the reading &C.
Cupying an nour and half. General Cameron then
moved that it be printed In confidence for use OF
Relations.
SENATOR CAMERON AS 4 PARTY LEADER.
Mr.. Cameron. from the outstart to-day, showed
that he intends TO be chairman OF the Fo eign Rea.
lions Committee In fact as well as in name. II dd
not seek the place. said Mr.. Cameron to gentle
man yesterday, "but being there ! intend to dis
charge all It's duties" The story that Senator Nor.
ton was to manage the treaty in tie Senate Is EVIL
IDENTIFY Without foundation. General Cameron does
notintend to abandon his place to anybody, nor,
judging from his course to-day, is there occasion
for any member OF the Foreign Relations Committee
assuming his position or attempting to assume II.
1t Is said that Mir. Cameron has shown that he
knows q good deal more about the treaty now be-
fore the Senate and our foreign affairs generally
than many Of his critics in and out OF the Senate.
This has rather surprised them. Mr.. Cameron aon't
believe IN speeches, especially long ones.
He makes very few himself, and there
Iore some Senators are disposed to give
lin credit for being nothing more than plain
business man: TO day, after making his motion to
refer the treaty, he suggested that the treaty be
made public. He did not see any reason for keeping
Il secret. The people, he said were rs much in
teresed In 1t as the Senate, and hnd as much ut
stake. He made mo ion TO the effect that the
treaty be given out.
senator Conkng, who has great faith IN secresy
as one OF the elements OF diplomacy, begged
Mr.. Cameron to Withdraw his motion. MI.
Cameron said II there was opposition to the
matter ne would withdraw the cotton, but his own
Judgment was, that the full ext OF the treaty should
be given to the people.
Senator Morton offered resolution that the ofi-
cial reporter OF the Senate be allowed to report the
debate the treaty in.condence for the or the
Senate that IL the Senate saw proper the ininnc
ton Of secresy might be removed and the debate
published after the treaty was ratified.
Mr.. sherman made objection and the resolution
went over until Friday. 1t is thought 1t viii be
adop ted. s,ss =; 8 ,,2=t-f'--
-. -. REMARKS By SENATOR SUMNER
Mr. Sumner then took tho floor and proceeded 10
make some general remarks upon the treaty. He
called the attention OF the Senate to its importance
1t was next IN Importance to treaty OF peace, the
latter being Of necessity the nrst OF all treaties The
treaty now before the Senate had but one parallel in
or history, to wit, the Jay Treaty, made
with Great Britain under tho admins-
srati0n OF President washington. These
two treaties were alike In the multiplicity
OF subjects considered. Both were treaties OF recon-
cilaton between the United states and Great
Britain. The Senator proceeded at some length to
compare the Jay treaty with that now before The
Senate. The opinions held by the two nations then
to their rights and interests were so opposite that 1t
was difficult matter to make negotiations success.
ful. After two weeks debate In secret session the
Senate, by vote OF 20 To 10. precisely c0nstt-
tutionsl majority ratified the treaty, with an
amendment excepting the article relating to the
West India trade. Probably, following this exanl-
pie, the Senate would first amend and then rally
the treaty before IT, After the debate upon the Jay
treaty the Senate had removed the seal OF secrecy
from their proceedings but had forbidden the
publication OF the treaty. Various statements
were published as to Its contents, some OF them nc.
companed by very malignant criticism OF the treaty
and the administration. In order to put a stop to
this, and wishing to get the views OF the people.
President Washington determined to make the
treaty public. In this however, he was anticipated,
because on the same day he arrived at this deter