The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-05-13
From washington-..The Treaty.


The United States senate convened in extri
session at Washington on Wednesday, it:
principal business beng to take up and dis
pose of the treaty just concluded by the joint
High Commission and laid before that body
for ratification. The treaty, of course has not
been published, and will not be until acted
upon IN secret session by the senate; but so
many crude versions of It's provisions having
found their way into the press, the State De-
partment, to set public opinion right on the
subject, has allowed semi-official synopsis of
its provisions 10 he made public. According
to this version the salient points OF The treaty
are about as follows:
The Alabama claims, which Great Britain
recognizes as legitimate, are to be submitted
to and settled by o board of arbitration. con-
sisting oftiye members, so appointed us to in
sure their impartialty.
All other claims of American citizens against
British subjects, and rice gersa, arising cut OF
the rebellion, are to be submitted to mixed
commission, to sit in Washington, by whom
all damages on either side are to be adjusted
In regard to the fisheries, the fishermen of
the United States are to be allowed to fish in
British waters and to dry their nets and cure
their fish on British shores, and the same pri-
yileges are to be allowed to British fishermen
IN American waters and on American shores
north of the 39th parallel, but mixed COM
mission is to determine which nation gets the
better 10y this bargain, and the difference is to
be made up to the loser by payment in
money.
The treaty declares the navigation of the
st. Lawrence free to both nations, and the Ca.
madam canals alike free to American shipping
on the payment Of the regular tolls
And, finally, it revives the reciprocity treaty
with Canada 50 far as to abolish the duty on
Canada lumber.
The treaty thus wholly ignores and scouts
the sentimental objections which Grant, Butler
and Sumner made to the Johnson Clarendon
treaty--that 1t embodied no confession of
England Of having done wrong in her hasty
recognition ofthe rebel belligerency, in allowing
cruisers to be fitted cut in her ports, &C., &C.,
but comes back to the plain matter of fact
points of business and dollars and cents.
"Vaue received has been the motto and
guide Of the whole negotiation. If England
pays the losses inflicted on American COM
merce by the Alabama and ether cruisers fitted
out in her ports, the United States must pay
the losses sustained by the British subjects in
the South during the war. If, when che &C.
counts are settled up, there is balance in our
favor, we snail get it il the balance is against
US, we must liquidatc the same. So also if we
want to fish in Canadian waters, land for re-
pairs or stores on Canadian soil, or navigate
Canadian rivers and canals, England is quite
ready to grant these privileges, providing we
pay Tor them-not otherwise. If we have any.
thing which England wants, she is equally
ready to pay US for it. So it is probable that
all the vexed questions about which Bu.ler
and the Bombastes Furiesos Of the country
generally have wanted to fight, are to be adj
justea by cash or approved paper. This com.
merci"l style of diplomacy, if we are not
cheated too badly, is the most sensible sort,
and it is far preferable to exchange bank
checks rather than cannon balls.
1t is said Rcverdy Johnson rubs his hands
in glec over the result ofthe High Joint Com.
mission, and says, though the treaty is not as
favorable to the United States as the treaty he
concluded at London, yet the treaty is a good
and sensible one, and ought to be ratified