The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-05-18
The Treaty.

Inc treaty between ibis govern
ment aud that of Great Britain,
which is now under consideration by
the United States Senate, settles all
tho important matters ofdiffer ence
between the acknowledgements
which have for years been accumu-
lating, and which became serious
when what is termed the Alabama
Claims arose. While other ques-
tions, have been satisfactorily nd.
justed, to-wit: That of the right of
fishery on the coast Of the British
provinces the claims of British
subjects residing in the South during
the rebellion for loss of property !;
tho free navigation Of the st. Law
renee river the Northwestern
boundary still the Alabama Claims
are tho ones to which public interest
is directed, and which have given
rise to the unfriendly feelings which
have been very apparent among our
people. While it is true, taken in
the light Of individual losses, the
amount of shipping destroyed by
rebel cruisers looks large, and is go;
yet, viewed as q national loss, it is
quite insignificant, amounting in the
aggregate to only, in round numbers,
sl3,OO0,0OO, the four vessels doing
this damage being the Alabama,
Shenandoah, Florida and Georgia.
We say this loss, in money point
of view, is Insignificant for two pow
erful nations to go to war about.
1t may, therefore, be said that the
pecuniary loss has not been the diff:
ficulty in the way of settlement, but
the great difference which has pre-
vailed between the two governments
is, as to the right or wrong Of the
claims and the proper construction
OF international law applicable to
such claims. In the treaty, as it
comes from the hands of the Joint
High Commission, the British gov.
eminent yields thus far, by saying !:
Her Britanic Majesty has author
lied her High Commissioners and
"plcnlpotentiarles to express, in q
"iriendly spirit, the regret of He,
Majesty's government, for the
escape, under whatever circum.
stances, of the Alabama and other
"vessels from British ports, and
"for depredations committed by
"those vessels" Having done
this, the British government
further agrees that the claims shall
be adjusted by board Of arbitrators
consisting Of Eve, one to be appoint
cd by the President Of the United
States, one by the Queen Of Great
Britain, one by the KingofSpain, one
by the President of the Swiss Repub-
lie, and the other by the Emperor Of
Brazil. But in addition they go fur
,her, and lay down the construction
OF International law, all the while
contended tor by our government
as proper for tho adjustment of these
claims, and agree that the arbitrators
shall be governed in making the
adjustment by such construction, and
SO our government finally carries the
great point Of difference, subject only
TO this modification; q very ingenious
one, to avoid, wounded homer, viz:
that while tho British nation are
willing to have the adjustment made
under the American construction OF
International law, still they do not
agree that such was the law at the
time of the commission of the acts
complained Of. This very ingenious
manner Of smoothing over and get
ting arounda very troublesome point,
is shrewdly and elegantly put in
the following language:
.Her Britannia Majesty has COM
nanded her High Commissioners and
Plenipotcntiaries 10 declare that Her
Maiesty's government cannot assent
TO the foregoing rules as statement
ofthe principles of international law
which wore in force ut the time when
tho claims mentioned in article LIST
arose, but that Her Britannia Males
tvs government, in order TO evidence
it's desire of strengthening friendly
relations between the tive counties,
and Of making satisfactory provisions