The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-25

the motion Of the noble earl and what opinion they
should express with regard to the merits OF tne
treaty. Agreeing with many things wnich nau
fallen from the noble earl he trusted that he would
be satisfied with having brought forward MS mo-
ton ana would not press II 70 uvsion NO aoun.
ton that the country should not be bound by
treaty concluded by the Executive unless u was
approved by Parliament. But that mad not hitherto
been the course adopted by this country; and 10 was
certainly very different thing TO break OF treaty
which had been concluded by the government, ana
to express what ne had no hesitation IN doing-tn
opinion that the bargain which had been made was
not one OF satisfactory character. He did not be-
lleve That
THE POLITICIANS OF WASHINGTON
would regard the decentralization OF this treaty WITH
the same comparative Indifference or calmness with
which we received the ton by The Senate or he
convention concluded by Mr.. Reverdy Johnson ana
would be considered as Declaration Of hostility on
our part. But If that House were TO adopt the
resolution proposed by the noble earl the govern
ment would not abstain from ratify1ng the treaty
without taking the opinion OF the other house,
which, in the present state OF politics, was certain
to be In their favor. Or course, the government
would act upon the opinion OF that branch OF the
Legislature which agreed with them and the reso-
luton OF that House would therefore iail OF any
or The treaty. he must say that he saw nothing OBJ
jectionabe In the abstract IN the expression OF our
regret at the escape OF the Alabama and other ships
OF the same kind. We did our best to prevent
their leaving our shores, and 1t was perfectly natu-
raj that
WE SHOULD EXPRESS OUR REGRET AT OUR FAILURE
STILL he thought II doubtful whether II was wlse to
insert such declaration in treaty which referred
these matters to arbitration, because this tended to
prejudice our CASE and to create an impress OH that
there was something ABOUT which we felt unconrort-
able Them although he quite admitted the pro-
priety OIL referring these claims TO arbtration--a
proposition which was accedcd to both by himself
and by the late Lord Clarendon-he objected 10 the
adoption of the rules by which the arbitration was
TO he guided IN determining our liability. II the
case had zone TO arultratlon without any such rules
being lald down. we should nave argued that
our difficulties In dealing with the Alabama claims
were very much increased by the ambiguity or IN
fnt.no Hama la n mat tafnux fln
prived by these rules; and we were now about
to put ourselves on our trial Tor. acts
years later. II was. very much al # when
the slave trade was abolished 1t had been
Should apply not mel ely to those who might offend
IN future but also to those who mad engaged in the
traffic for the ten years past All &c post tacto
those VINO yield to the claim Tor such legislation IN
one case VIII find 1t difficult TO resist 1t In another.
He should have much
PREFERRED AN ARBITRATION
OF perfectly unfetered character; but II seemed to
him THAT The Americans had declined TO accede to
any arbitration until they OF Her
Majesty's government appear 10 have thought that
reasonable. and to have loaded the dice, so that by
regard to
THE FISHERY QUESTION,
he trusted That the Canadians would be left perfectly
Tree to express their own opinion upon that part OF
the treaty, unbiased by any hint that they refused
protection from us. But, although 1t was PROBABLY
inevitable, he could not help regrettlng that the
question had been raised at the present time, be-
he foresaw nat IL involved great danger to the
Canadian confederation. The terms or the treaty
could hardly fail to cause considerable soreness on
the part of the maritime provinces who must feel
that their interests had been thrown overheard and
If the treaty was ratified by the influence OF the
Canadians the result would lie considerable aliena-
ton between the different provinces OF the Domin-
Ion. The American government had certainly got
the best OF the bargain They had acted like shrewd
men OF business VINO knew what they wanted ana
were determined to get it, and he could not help
pressing wish that the amD-like meekness OF our
negOtiatOrs had been tempered by the same quail
ties. II was indeed SAID by the noble earl that we
did not know what concessions had been made by
the United States. But ne could not conceive what
they could possibly have made unless they were he
demand for damages on account of our premature
recognition OF Confederate belllgerency and the
prep0sterous claims put forward Dy Mr.. Sumner.
Those demapds would, however, never have been
admitted by any arbitration. aud We therefore, de-
rived no advantage from their withdrawal. He
was GLAD that there was prospect Of these ques-
tons being settled; and he should have preferred to
say nothing about the mode Of their settlement un-
less he had been officially connected with the sub
ect some years ago B ne c1ud noa say
perfectly credtable TO those who were responsible
for the treaty. or were conducive to the diplomatic
EARL DE GREY AND RIPoN
denied that the course taken by the English Com
concession to their American colleagues 1t was
easy to say that the latter had given up no claim
traitor; bat it was lar more SATISFACTORY to hear an
express surrender Of those which had been referred
been Under the
which he made with Mr.. Reverdy Johnson He be-
escape Of the Alabama and her coeagues W. would
have very happy effect IN America; and with
respect to the rules by which the Judgment Of the
arbitrator was TO be guided, he maintained that
they did go beyond what were understood by the
government OF Lord Palmerston to be the principles
botn of the International law and our own munich
Jet Jet. they We're ~s Governed throughout Spy By
tach TO US unless In cases where we had failed to
exercise educ diligence;" and as no one could
evidence which to act. II clear that the APP
prehensions Of Lord Russell this point were en-
TREY un10unded. lie had no difficulty in stating
that
THE MAIN REASON
which induced the commissioners to assent to these
benefit to obtain the assent Of the American govern
ment and, he trusted, that Of other governments
also to rules Which were reasonable ana Just n
would obtain greater advantage than ourselves
With regard to the Reciprocity Treaty, the Commits.
soners had fought that question day by day and
point by point until they we're satisfied that nothing
could be done; and he had, for his own part,
more likely TO retard the adoption OF free trade
the United States than by clalnorng for recipro
noble Earl then vlndIcated at some length the proyi.
sons Of the treaty so tar as they related TO Canada
and after expressing regret that his conduct had met
with the dlsapproval OF Earl Russell, he concluded
by declaring his satisfaction that he had had snare
In great work which was calculated TO unite Eng
aud to promote and secure the peace Of the world.
THE INTERESTS OF CANADA.
The Earl OF CARNARvON conteDded that the inter-
ests OF Canada were not adequately considered in
or secured BY the treaty. Sill, ON the whole, he
trusted nat In the interests Of the empire large
Canada would not refuse her assent to IL,
The Earl o; KIMBERLEY argued that the terms OF
the treaty were, as whole, not unfavorable TO
Canada. and expressed his hope that the people or
that colony would consider 1t III fair ana dispas-
slonate spirit, and not withhold their ratification.
THE VIEWS OF OTHERS.
Lord CAIRNS deprecated any intervention on the
part Of that House to prevent the ratification OF
treaty, and expressed his satisfaction that we had
rendered to the government or the United states an
expression OF that regret which every felt that
their commerce had suffered injury through cruisers
which had left our ports. he also declared ms ap-
prevail OF the rules OF International conduct Land
down In the sixth article so lar as they related TO
the fnture; Dut at the same time. he pointed out
That, III their application to the past, they might,
under certain constructions, involve consequences
unlav0rable to ourselves. His objections 10 the word
Ing or the rules under this aspect were sustalnedby
verbal criticism Of the most minute elaborate and
highly professional character. He maintained that
this the time for prOnOunclng, by vote Of