New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-16
THE JOINT COMMISSION.


between the two countries before the
Joint commission now in session at Wash
ington.
The commissioners on the part Of Eng
land are Earl De Gray, the President OF
the Council; Sir Edward Thornton, the
English Minister at Washington; Sir Stat
ford Northcote, Mr.. Bernard, one of the
most eminent English jurists; and Sir
John Macdonald, Prime Minister Of the
Dominion of Canada. Upon the part OF
the United States the commissioners con-
sist of Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary OF
State: General Schenck, lately member OF
Congress, and more recently appointed
Minister to England; Mr.. Williams, Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs;
Hon. Samuel Nelson, one Of the Justices
of the United States Supreme Court; and
Hon. E. r. Hoar, late United States At
torney General. This joint commission of
distinguished men of the two great
est countries of the world are engaged in
the peaceful work of adjustment of sub
jects of great importance to their people
There are croakers, agitators and fault
finders who insist that this commission
will end in nothing. One member of the
English Parliament, Mr.. Disraeli, in re-
gard to our course respecting the matter.
is displaying captiousness and arrogance
l Il ~ xl.><
he is.
| Happily, he stands almost alone in his
spleen and hatred of the United States
and its institutions. While the thunder
ing Times growls and busters an echo to
the ex-premier. both are too well under
stood as to their nature and disposition to
| care much what either thinks or says.
Both are known and estimated at their
their proper value, and are treated accord
ingly. Some of the most heightened
English journals say that the rapproche-
n,ent of the two powers has not been ini-
tiated moment too soon. They admit
that for the past ten years and upward
there has been GOODNESS between the
government at Washington and at ST.
James. They insist that there have been
faults on both sides, one Of them using
the following language: The blame Of
this want of cordially should be shared
pretty equally between John Bull and
Cousin Jonathan. If the latter was irrita-
BILE, it can not be denied that the former
was irritating. The war of secession
greatly exasperated unfriendly feeling.
That the Unionists of America took UNI
bragg at the bearing Of large portion Of
the British public in regard to the des-
perate struggle between themselves and
the Confederacy ought not to excite our
establishment. much less kindle our re-
sentiment. They had on hand an under
taking which tasked their strength to
the utmost. Nearly every family in
the land was placed in mourning
for one or more Of its members.
During the first year or two Of the strife
disappointment after disappointment APP
peared to attend the armies of the
North. 1t was during that earlier and
gloomier period Of the war that the cap
ture Of Mason and Sidell brought the
two nations into imminent danger Of col
lision, and, soon after, the escape Of the
Alabama from Liverpool otcing TO the re-
missness Of the British government led
the ray TO the rain Off the american n,er-
chant service, and the hdnyerence Of The
mercantile nary to foreign hands. These,
and other events Of like character, COM
ing in the place of the benevolent and
sympathizing neutrality expected from
England, made very painful impression
upon the American mind. If, since the
conclusion of peace, our transatlantic
kinsmen have put forward some unrea-
sonable claims upon us, and received
our approaches toward renewal of init
macy with somewhat ungracious
air, great allowance should be made on
account of preceding circumstances.
This is modest, and far more respectful |
than the sneering, insulting language of
the English Tory demagogue, Disraeli.
The commission have been for some |
time convened, and, we are informed, are |
making favorable progress in relation to
the matters submitted to them for adju-
dication and settlement. It is reported |
that comparison Of views has thus far
no insurmountable obstacle to
a settlement of the questions at issue,
and the members now feel more sanguine
Of success than before the meetings be-
gan. Many Of our contemporaries of the
North predict failure because the OBJ
ects of the commission. so far as indicated
in the terms Of its appointment, on both
sides, are indefinite, and therefore can
not be final. Its proceedings must all
come under review of the respective gov
of the United States and Great
Britain, and if both agree to them they
must still be relegated to another COM
mission to settle the practical parts Of the
matter at issue, such as awards, etc,
thing infinitely more difficult and likely
to be more embarrassing than a loose
definition Of principles concerning neu-
trality, fishing, etc, which seems to be all