The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-28
TREATY OF WASHINGTON.

.
Some of the prominent features of the
text Of the Treaty of Washington, already
before our readers, deserve more than b
casual glance. !
In the British Parliament, sections !, 8,
and Is, We're denounced as surrendering
principles which had been rightfully insisted |
upon, and partly conceded to Great Britain
by former negotiators on the part Of the
United States. Insisting that the British 1
government did its whole dutysunder then
recognized International law, in regard to
preventing the sailing of the. Alabama, the
apology contained in the second paragraph
of the preamble to Article I: "Her Britain
mic Majesty has authorized her High Com
missioners to express, i'll a friendly spirit,
the regret felt by Her Majesty's govern
ment for the escape, under whatever cir.
cumstances, of the Alabama and other YES
sells from British ports, and Tor the depre-
dations committed by those vessels" it
was strenuously. objected, that.this apology
should never have been made, and, if made,
should not have been embodied in the
Treaty, as it was tantamount to a confession
of Judgment under Article X.iR aAa "
The bitterest dcnunciation was bestowed
upon Article VI and the three rules laid
down as binding upon Great Britain in the
settlement, by arbitrators, of claims by cit
liens of the United States upon Great Bril-
tain, growing out of the piracies of the Ala
balna and other vessels, when such rules
did not exist, as admitted in international
law at the time the Alabama escaped from a
British port, and disclaimer to that effect
appears in Article VIitself, in these words,
.sHer Britannia Majesty has commanded her
High Commissioners to declare that Her
Majesty's government cannot assent to the
foregoing rules as a statement of principles
of international law schich aceie IN force at
the time schen The CLAIMS mentioned IN A,ti-
Gle I arose. Speakers dilated upon the in
Justice Of being indicted and mulcted in dam
ages, under an es post facto law, and the
reason assigned, in the succeeding lines of
the same article, for this unprecedented
conces sion, made the matter worse. "But
that Her Majesty's government in order tc
evince its desire of strengthening the friend.
ly relations between the two countries. and
Of making satisfactory provision for the flu,
ture &c.;" why concede well established
legal principle to strengthen friendly rcla
tons" between Great Britain and the United
States in preference to other countries
and having solemnly embodied the conces.
sion in a Treaty with one. power, how
could it be refused to another?
Article XVIII. in relation to the fisheries
is much assailed, because it grants ''mhabi
tants of the United States, in common will
the subjects of Her Britannia Majesty, tn,
liberty to take fish of every kind
except shell fish, on the sea coasts anC
shores, and in the bays, harbors, an,
creeks of the Provinces of Quebec, Nov
Scotia, and New Brunswick, and the Colon,
of Prince Edward Island, &C., acithom bein
restricted to any distance from the shore,
and by Article XXXII it is provided tina
Newfoundland may be included, if til
Legislature of that Island consent.
The surrender of restriction as to "dis
lance from the Shore" removes one fruit
full source of annoyance to our fishermen
the Provincial authorities holding the lin
of prohibitions marine league fror
the shore-should be straight lin
from headland to hcadland, an
not an irregular line, following tn
indentations of the coast. 1t was als
urged that the privilege accorded in eS
change, allowing British subjects to fish i
like manner ''on the eastern sea coasts an
shores of the United States north of the
parallel of north latitude" was an empt
boon, as these fishing grounds were worth
less, except for shell-fsh and shad, whic
are excepted. 5fi
The British negotiators are blamed fc
omissions as well as commissions. Tn
Fenian raid claims, of Canada against til
United States, are not allowed to go befor
the arbitrators; no provision made for n
newal of the reciprocity treaty with tn
provinces no approach to free trade, tn
cherished hope of British manufacturers.
Our negotators have reason to be proud
the honorable and advantageous terms S,
cured by the Treaty of Washington an
the country will appreciate the ability an
patriotism of the administration, unde
whose auspices threatening complication
have been cleared up and removed fror
the political arena.
A LAW STUDENT'T SUICIDE.-Chas