The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-07
THE COMMISSION AND ITS WORK.

engaged In the prosecution OF us laDors at
Washington. What the conclusion may
be it is of course impossible to predict, but
there are many circumstances which point
to satisfactory and suspicious result
The two governments have themselves
manifestly approached the negotiations in
friendly and temperate mood and with
sincere wish for final settlement. They
must naturally desire that the effort shall
not prove abortive. To resort at this late
day to so ceremonious and elaborate an
agency as Joint Commission without
some expectation of favorable results, and
without some solid reason for INDUCING
such confidence, would only cover them
selves with ridicule.
We are more than warranted in assu-
ming such sincerity and hopefulness Of
purpose from the fact that the questions in
dispute have long been under discussion.
They are not purely tentative and expert
mental. For more than six years they
have been earnestly canvassed through
diplomatic forms and in the public jour-
nails. Out of this solution there has come
disqualification of opinion and purpose.
Each government has fair and intelligent
understanding of the position of the other.
The public sentiment of both countries is
measurably settled and ixed There are
limits on either side beyond which previous
discussions have determined that neither
will pass. In undertaking the present ne
gotiations both governments have pro-
ceeded with full knowledge of this fact,
and with purposes which do not conflict
with it. There are many details which re-
main to be fixed, but the general outlines
and principles are tolerably well deter
mined
The British government understands first
of all that there can be no settl ement
without full acknowledge of liability
for the ravages Of the Alabama, and with
out full payment of the American claims.
This must be the first point in any adjust
ment. There must be no equivocation or
doubt in the terms On this question
public sentiment is clear and unalterable.
The American people are not now willing
even to submit the matter to arbitration.
They demand distinct admission of La
bility and distinct measure of indemnifi-
cation. The British government knows
perfectly well that nothing short of this
will be tolerated, aud that any attempt at
settlement which does not Enthusiastically
recognize it will be utterly futile. We are
justified, therefore, in assuming that it is
fully prepared to yield this cardinal and
pivotal demand. Unless it is, it might |
have spared itself the trouble of sending its |
noble representatives on wild goose chase
across the ocean.
AS to other questions, our government
will doubtless be moderate. We do not |
expect constructive damages. We believe
that the course of England did much to
prolong the war and to augment our bur-
den. But we insist upon no claim which |
is not susceptible Of exact measurement,
and which is not clearly founded upon the
recognized principles of law Passing
this point, the most important question,
next to the Alabama claims proper, is that
which grows out of the premature recog-
milton of Confederate belligerency In
many quarters it has been insisted that
England should apologize for this act, but
the British government naturally repels
such demand. Great nations are not in
the habit of submitting to the humiia-
ton of offering apologies under constraint,
and the better sentiment in our country is
now against urging any such demand.
The act of England was unfriendly in its
influence; but France and other powers
did precisely the same thing, and we make
no claim against them.
If the English recognition was hasty
and premature, it is none the less true that
t was advocated by some of our warmest
friends upon the belief that it would be
conducive to our real interests Besides,
t has been our American doctrine that the
of belligerency in such cases is
IN act of sovereign right, which may be
.bused, but which is nevertheless exer-
Used in the discretion of nation and for
which it is not responsible to anybody
Use. There is maxim of law defining
he right, but the determination of the
question as to when the facts warrant the
DUPLICATION is something which Govern
nent must make for itself. Our real COM
,laint against Great Britain is not that she !
ssued a proclamation of neutrality, but :
hat she did not observe it. The letter of
DR.. Fish in the Motley correspondence in
cates that our Government will take the
rue and teuable position on this subject |,
position which. will eliminate one of the
hief embarrassments in the controversy t
nth England y
1t is not improbable that the most per- u
licking and serious difficulty before the
will be the Canadian subjects.
he Canadian people are in that peculiar
plioh % fha,,, c,1ao; oll,y cn,ci