The New York herald., 1871-02-11
THE UIGN in,",'ANISSlON.
Confirmation Of All the American Com
misSiOnerS by the Senate.
Senator Summers Views Re-
garding the Negotiations.
Shrcwd Craftsmanship Represented in the
British Commission.
Diplomatic Ability of the American
Appointees.
Diversity of Opinion Among
Washington Authorities.
>>~~~--~>~o>.-~~~--~->,~
GENERAL BUTLER'S VIEWS.
OPINIONS OF THE BRITISH FRESS.
THE AMERTCAM COMMISSION
Diplomatic Ability of the American
Appointees.
Diversity of Opinion Among
Washington Authorities.
GENERAL BUTLER,S, VIEWS.
OPINIONS OF THE BRITISH FRESS.
THE AMERICAN COMMISSION.

Their Confirmation by the Senate-Ipterest-
Ing Discussion Upon the Constitutional Eligi-
bility Of senator williams sensible Course
OF Senator Sumner.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1871.
The Senate went into executive session at an
early hour to-day for the purpose Of considering
the nominations OF the joint High Commission After
some discussion to the law authorizing the ap-
pertinent or the commission all the Commissioners
were confirmed except
SENATOR WILLIAMS.
Objection was made to him that he was not eligi-
ble because OF his being member OF the Senate,
the constitution containing provision that no
Senator Representative shall, during the time for
which he was elected, be appointed to any civil
efflce under authority OF the United States which
shall have been created or the emoluments in
creased during such time. Senator Sumner made
an argument
AGAINST THIS OBJECTION,
quoting precedents to show that the clause or the
constitution with regard to the appointment OF O
Senator or Representative 10 an Office created
during the term for which he was elected did not
apply to o case like that before them.
During the discussion Mr. Sumner spoke Of his
knowledge Of three of the British Commissioners
they being not only shrewd statesmen, but thor
oughly acquainted with the questions with which
they will have to deal. The point decided was that
the Office to which Williams was nominated IS not
civic Office created by law, it being held that he IS
appointed merely to
REPRESENT THE PRESIDENT
in an executive capacity. Williams accordingly
confirmed This settles the whole business for the
present, SO far as the Senate Is concerned.
Views OF Senators Regarding the Success Of
the High C0mmission-Yhe Gravity Of the
81, fp.,y>l lso
Opinion of the Commission in Washington
Lack Of Heavy Weights Among Our HEM
bers of It--Caleb Cushins's and General
Buffers Claims 10 Observation-Disclosures ns
the Primo First Cause Of tho Prompt Adju-
dtcntion UrOu the Question.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1871.
There are Senators who voted to confirm the Com
missioners who regard the whole thing as an eX.
pertinent, and not certain settlement Of the diff
culies between Great Britain and the United States
SO far 1t is stated the only point ga ned by gov
ernment is that the Commission meets IN Washing
ton instead OF London. The correspondence be.
tween Sir Edward Thornton and Secretary Fish
shows, it is alleged that the British government
still holds to the terms Of
THE CLARENDON JOHNSON TREATY,
and that she assents to commission on those terms
OF course the action OF the Commission will not be
nnal 1t will be subject to review by both govern
ments, and If s Is not satisfactory to the United
States 1t will not amount to anything.
SENATOR SUMMERS POSITION
regarding the appointment of the joint commission
is that he thinks grave o question should be
Investigated by the Senate and examined In all its
bearings before final action is taken. lie states his
desire TO be for real and lasting peace with Eng
land and points TO hts celebrated Alabama speech
as being proper statement OF his feelings in this
rJn On.Cl n m "
because he believed 1t failed to
TOUCH THE SEAT OF THE DISEASE,
and without doing so. any real and permanent
peace based upon mutual good feeling was impossi-
bic. SO gingerly was that convention worded that
It even avoided mentioning the Alabama question.
He believes that the idea OF joint commission
should only be entertained upon decided convictions
that it win succeed in efecting just and satisfac.
tory arrangement which will not endanger the self.
respect Of the side or fall short Of the Just ex-
pectatlons of the American people on the other To
fail now would be- he thinks, to leave the questions
in an Infinitely worse position than If no commission
had been established, because in propot tion to the
Importance and dignity surrounding this high COM
mission must be the disappointment at
< FAILURE Or ADJUSTMENT.
without. therefore bslag anasy:tgsss IS question.
Ing the success oi tle Commission, it viii be seen
sure peace, and therefore asking for such deber.
ave action the part OF the Senate as would ena-
BILE the merits and responsibilities Of the step TO be
carefully understood.
SOME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
exists with reference TO the composition OF the
American Commission. Some say II Is capital
Commission and others say that while at least three
of the English Commissioners are conspicuous for
their familiarity with the subjects which VIII come
under discussion, our side fails to present any
prominent name, except, perhaps that OF General
Schenck.
is acknowledged to be an able admiralty lawyer, but
it is argued that aside from his duties having re.
moved him from that general intercourse which
would familiarzc him with public opinion, his ex.
treme age forbds the hope that he exercise any
great influence on the deliberations. Tho name OF
General
CALEB CUSHING
has been mentioned as proper person to have been
selected as one Of the commissioners, connected as
he has been In The past with the questions between
the United Statesand the British provinces.
THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL BUTLER TO BE ONE OF THE
COMMISSIONERS.
TO General Butler, however, Is generally awarded
the credit Of having so thoroughly aroused the
En-! !llsh government to the dangerous character OF
the pending questions as to have impelled them to
come down their high horse and sue for an ad.
justment or the outstanding differences. His
friends say that had he been placed on the
commission there is no doubt that any re-
port which might be agreed upon would have been
acquiesced In by the country as embodylng the best
terms ostainabe. General Butler, they say, is so
thoroughly American that even those most opposed
to him would have been satisfied that In any ar
rangement to which he was party there would at
all events be no trucking to england. These are
the sentiments freely expressed in certain circles
mere. where the subject Is discussed. General But
ler has been somewhat reticent In expressing an
opinion regarding the probable results OF the COM
MISSION but il Il evident he Is not very enthusiastic
ABOUT Il. he declares however, that any patched