New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-18
TIE SENArES CASE Sr1TEn.

The great question wherewith the Senate of
the United States has been for some days
graphing continues TO tax its resources TO
such an extent That perhaps a summary OF
the main points in the case may DO convenient.
/. On the Sth OF May the Joint High Com
missoners of Great Britain and the United
States affixed their signatures to a treaty, the
secrecy of the discussions on winch we had
scrlpulously respected. 1t was forthwith
Transmitted to the Senate. The result OF
the latest and most important effort
nj the adjustment of the grave questions
at issue between this Country and Great
Britain thereupOn passed from the field of
diplomatic discussion. 1t was theDcefOrth to
be decided by the representatives of the
States, according to their best knowledge of
the wishes of the People that selected them
III. But no effort was made to obtain this
Judgment of the People. On the contrary, the
effort seemed to be to manufacture a judg
ment. Certain carefully-selected points of the
Treaty were divulged to certain local news
papers. The next day certain others were
diyulged. Then came an editorial in a
local newspaper of limited circulation,
warmly exhorting "a general support OF
the Treaty, which was manifestly prepared
with copy of the document under the
writer's eyes; and this, with the apparent APP
prevail of the Government, was telegraphed to
the Press of the Country. BY such steps Louis
Napoleon was wont to "prepare the public
mind" for his new propositions; but it is not
a system much esteemed among a free people,
accustomed to overlook and direct the acts of
their public servants.
Ill. At this stage, the Treaty itself was
brought to our Washington Office for trans
mission to THE TRIBUNE, that it might be i'm
partially laid before the People it concerned.
The Senate had just been discussing whether
il should be published or not, and the
impression at the close of the debate
was that it would be, and that within
day or two. But the Treaty did
not come to us from the Senate or any
one responsible to it. Our business was not to
keep the secrets of any branch, either of the
Government of this Country or of Great
Britain, but to serve the People. We did it,
at no small expense, as the telegraph company
can testify,-and have received the thanks of
the People, from Maine to California, therefor.
" Hereupon the Senate, forgetting that
the allegiance of TIE TRIBUNE is to larger
and more powerful body than it, arraigns our
representatives for breach of privilege, in
the publication of a document not in its
exclusive possession or under its sole con-
troll. which part of its members preferred
to keep secret. Our representatives promptly
satisfy the Senate that its secrets have been
in no wise disturbed; that no member officer,
or emplos6, in any degree under its control,
violated for us any of its rules.
V. There, if not earlier, the jurisdiction of
the Senate clearly stopped. 1t had asked
every question it had a right to ask, and had
received courteous, frank, explicit answers.
Beyond that point it was as impotent to com
mand information from the represent
atiycs of TIE TRIBUNE as nom the
of Great Britain. 1t
has already been Occupying ltseif IN
demonstrating that impotence for forty-eight
hours; it MAY, for augbt we know, @end the
rest of the session in the puStst OF It's
dignity ~ .l.c continuance of the dcmoDstia-