The New York herald., 1871-03-13
The Sessions of the Week Not
Very Encouraging.
Rnglands "Peace Offering" Not So Generous
as at First Supposed.
The Old JOhnson-C Clarendon Treaty Stipu.
lati0ns to BE Adhered to
by England.
British Stubbornness Against American
Backbone.

WASHINGTON, March IL, 1871.
The Joint High Commissioners have finished the
arst week OF their deliberations. They have done
great
DEAL OF DINING AND wINING
but very little business. The hot weather seems to
have already affected some OF the members, but
they will have hotter weather and hotter work be
fore they conclude their labors.
IN ADMINISTRATION CIRCLES
the idea given out is that all the pending ques-
uons between this country and Great Britain viii
be speedily settled to the satisfaction OF both coun-
tries. Prominent people here, however. who take
the deepest interest In this important International
AFFAIR, who closely watch all the indications and
who have taken special pains to acquaint themselves
with the course OF the proceedings are inclined TO
the opinion that the Commission viii
NOT ARRIVE AT ANY CONCLUSION
that VIII meet the sanction Of the Senate or the ap
proval OF the country. The removal or Senator
Sumner from the craftsmanship OF the Committee on
Foreign Relations OF the Senate Is IN this special
particular regarded as most unfortunate circum-
stance for the country. Leading men, whose
opinions represent those OF millions OF constituents
are apprehensve as TO the result and they free
TO say that they not believe the Commission win
arrive al any satisfactory adjustment At all events
they have confidence In the force OF public senti-
The protracted sessions Of the Commission give
credbIy to the generally received impression that
our Commissioners do not find the
ENGLISH COMMISSIONERS AS YIELDING
as it was supposed they would be, and the idea
finds growing strength that, whatever may have
been the general understanding between Mr.. Fish
and Mr.. Thornton, some OF the members OF the
American Commission consider that they have
higher duties to perform than merely 10 register the
conclusions agreed to beforehand by the Secretary
OF State and the British Minister. Indeed, so far
has this impression gained credence that already
the probability OF the Commission bursting up, not
from physical but mental causes, is freely can
vassed.
1t Is reported that very singular change of
opinion has taken place in the views OF the admins.
tration
CONCERNING CANADA
since the date OF the Presidents Message last De-
cember. Then the creation OF the Dominion OF
Canada was referred TO In anything but complimen.
tary terms as semi-independent but wholly irre-
sponsible government. Now, it is stated upon
good authority, that the administration regards
the establishment OF the Dominion government as a
step howard annexation to the United States and
altogether worthy OF being encouraged and sus-
tanned by u.s. Heretofore many people In the United
States believed that the establishment Of the Do
minon, like the attempted establishment Of the en-
pire In Mexico, blow aimed at the United
States In their hour Of peril and fagrant and posi-
tive
VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE MONROE
DOCTRINE,
changing the simple form OF colonial provincial
government into dominion, a sort OF mongrel mon-
archy to be erected into kingdom hereafter If sue
cessful. The failure Of the Dominion would inevlt-
ably bring about the independence OF the people
OF Canada, as 1t is known the people there would
not revert back 10 the provincial system. Yet 1t
is said that the administration deems it
the part OF good craftsmanship to
courage the success OF the Dominion and thus
erec.uay Illustrate the hopes OF liberal Canadians
in favor OF independence and freedom from English
rule. II these rumors are not correct as to the
changed views OF the administration it is only right
that the government should have an opportunity
thus afforded OF denying them
MR.. TnoRNToN's RECENT LETTER
to a New York lawyer is freely commented on here
as gong 10 show the determination Of the English
Commissioners to insist upon consideration OF tn
British cotton and other claims as an Offset to the
Alabama claims The expression Of thoughtful and
patriotic public sentiment, as represented here and
III these dispatches carefully communicated to the
HERALD, is reproduced in what looks like an origl
nal form in the following editorial article, which
appears In the first number Of the new Washington
paper called The Capttal:-
The result OF the labors OF the Joint High
Commission, If any result is reached, VIII,
1t is feared, greatly dlsappoint the ex-
regard the Commission as peace offering
on the part Of England. 1t is evident from the
composition OF the British side Of The Commission
that the members have been selected with espe-
clal reference to anything rather than a
rS k Enaaea e pInGpef se na
@ 's Lore 9SE shsEasn iss &s@ss
added TO the Commission when Mr.. Fish insisted in
interlecting the Alabama matter into the que stions
TO be considered, are conspicuous for the abb ity
with which they nave conlbated every inch Of the
ground held by the United States as TO the respon-
sib1lity OF England IN connection with the Alabama
claims. These two eminent men owe their distlnc-
uon 70 their prominence az contestants OF our
claim IN every shape and form, and they cannot
Lave been put on the commission with any other
intention than 10 place US in the wrong possible.
Every indication points that way, and the London
Times recent articles, taken in connection with the
composition Of the Commission and the Oft repeated
declarations OF public men N England all go to
prove that there Is no Intention whatever TO recede
from the deliberate determination OF Great Britain
taken at the outset and never UP to this moment
departed from. without going into details the
English platform can be very briefly expressed and
II, after stating II, there Is any one III this country
who continues TO believe that !he Commission viii
succeed IN arriving at satisfactory conclusion upon
the AaOama question, that Is, holding that the
Johnson-Clarendon convention was not satisfactory
why It can only be said that this sangulne
individual forms III counterpart TO that other san
guine individual who. upon being refused aduis.
sion TO the ARK, hoisted his umbrella anu logged
along smillngly, declaring the conclusion was quite
satisfactory as IL was not going 10 be much OF a
shower after all. England has deliberately taken the
ground thar under no circumstances can she permit
the United states 10 question her to the manner
In which she enforced the provisions OF her men.
trality laws because she holds that these laws are
purely municipal regulations and ordinances with
which no foreign government has any concern and
that proof OF the propriety Of that principle she
would nayea right tomorrow If sne saw fit TO
amend. repeal or abolish her neutrality laws with
out consultation with any foreign govern.
government TO interfere, and secondly, England has
taken the position that she Will not permit any
questioning by foreign government as to her
recognition OF the Southern coniederacy as belger
ents as that also matter which concerns herself
alone and her sovereignty; and thirdly she denies
her liabilit. for the damages caused by the
Alabama and other vessels, and tnere Is evidence 10
show she has never receded from that Fosluon.
Now, what has England said she Is willing
to dor In all this absurd and idlotic
feeling which has seized upon portion
OF the press OF the United states to the love