The Portland daily press., 1871-05-11

Extra Session Of tho United States Senate.
/ WASHINGTON, May 10-The Senate opened
at noon with prayer by Rev. DR.. Newman,
Chaplain, in the course of which he said:-
"May, Heavenly Father, it please Thee that all
national envy and jealousy shall cease; that
swords be turned into ploughshares and spears
into pruning hooks; when peace on earth and
good will 10 men shall be the universal prayer
OF all the human race Upon the United
States and Great Britain we invoke Thy bene-
dicti0n of wisdom aud peace BY no satanic
influence and errors of craftsmanship may the
peaceful relations of these two powers be in
terrCpted for q moment May all the people
be united in the good example of a peaceful
settlement of the questions now pc ,ding''
The Senate, having appointed Messrs. An
thopy aud Casserly committee to wait on the
President, took recess of an hour, and on re.
assembling agreed that when it ad journed to-
| day it should be to Friday.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, it
was resolved that the President be requested
to furnish tue Senate with copy of all the re-
ports n ade by Mr.. Whiting as Solicitor OF the
War Department upon any claims made by
| the subjects of any foreign nation for damages
| in consequence OF the war against the rebel
| lious States from 1861 TO 1865 inclusive, and
which are supposed to be on file in the State
| Department.
Gen. Porter then appeared, announcing that
he had been directed by the President to de-
| liver to the Senate messag in writing. The
| treaty was then handed to the Vice President,
Immediately MIR. Cameron moved that the
| Senate go into executive session, which was
| agreed to.
The Senate went into executive session a
| few minutes after l O'Clock. The first thing
done was the reading of the treaty of the
Joint High Commission, which occupied about
/ an hour. This was merely for Information.
Mr.. Cameron, chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations, made brief statement,
/ to the effect that the treaty was honorable to
| both countries and negotiated in the interest OF
peace. He hoped, therefore, that the treaty
| would receive the approval OF the Senate, and
suggested that it be given TO the press OF the
country. but to this several Senators interposed
objections, as they could see no reason Tor de-
parting from the uniform practice of the SEN
| ate.
Mr.. Sumner is reported to have said that he
did not approve Of some portions of the treaty,
and thought they ought to be amended. He.
like Mr.. Cameron, said the public should be
furnished with a full text of the treaty, in or.
der that they might fully understand its pro.
Senate. He was OF opinion that the claims Of
British subjects should not have been incor.
p1rated IN the treaty, as they grew out OIL
lungs done on the palt Of Great Britain itsel
during the late war. They would not have
been admitted if opposition had been ex-
| pressed by our own commissioners. A simple
ana better plan would have been to make a
fair bill for the Alabama and kindred depreda.
tions, but he would not now ask for its pay
pent in the way of exemplary or vindictiye
damages. Other matters might afterwards be
adjusted. He did not, however, indicate
whether he would vote for or against the
treaty, as be bad not yet had time to examine
all its features, some Of which were of IN i'm
porfant national character
The question of removing the ipiuuction oI
secrecy so as to enable the press to publish The
full text was not brought to a vote. The ,reaty
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Re.
latjons.
The Senate, at 8 10 p. NJ, adjourned.