The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-22

ment from the Utica Convention was made
manifest by the peace and harmony that pre-
vailed in the proceedings, and by the reap
pearance as manager, in spirit if not in per-
son, Of the venerable Thurlow Weed. the ex-
r r.-.s. maniralatoE ef the party conven
tions and legislatures in former years. WIND
has for some four or Ave years past beer
thrust aside by the active, working, restless
spirits now rallying around Greeley and
Fenton in the ranks OF the opposition. The
nomination Of General Dix was made in the
name of the well known Albany politician,
who was represented by substitute, and due
honor was paid to the name of the old party
chief when it was reached on the list of dele
gates. The only symptom of any disagreement
In the Convention was shown when, on the
| proposition of the name of Senator Robertson
as candidate for Governor, General Van
Wyck opposed the nomination, and read an
article from city paper denouncing such a
selection. Assemblyman Hustled stood up
for his fellow legislator, and Mr.. W. H..
Anthem, of New York, declared that the re-
sponsible editor of the paper in question, now
absent, would support Senator Robertson; but
the efforts were in vain. General Dix was i'm
mediately named for the position and his
nomination was carried by reclamation.
The speech of the President of the Conven-
ton, Congressman William A. Wheeler, was
in good taste and was received with much
applause 1t was in pleasing contrast to the
coarse personality and Indifferent wit INDUCED
in by the temporary Chairman, Mr. B. Plat
Carpenter, Of Duchess In one direction we
think the Convention made political blunder.
It had no word of condemnation for the
corruption of the republican legislation
of last Winter, or for the gross betrayal of the
cause Of reform by Senate and Assembly with
a majority powerful enough to sweep away all
opposition. 1t should have disowned and de-
nounced the men who disgraced the State
Capitol last session, and should have called for
the resignation, not of James Wood alone, but
of every republican member around the circle of
the Senate Chamber, the few good and the many
bad alike, so that justice might be done to tho
people who were cheated out of the fruits of
the victory Of last November. Their neglect of
this plain duty leaves them with the RESPONSE
bility for the acts of the Legislature upon the
shoulders of their party in the present contest.
The Alabama CIaims-Both Sides Hunt
Ing Up Evidence at Havana.
The Court Of Arbitration for the settlement
of the Alabama claims case between the people
and government Of the United States and Her
Majesty the Queen of Great Britain reassem-
bled in session in Geneva yesterday. The sit
ting was protracted, extending over several
hours, but the rule of secrecy with respect to
the proceedings was still maintained by the
Tribunal The argument of the American
counsel has been communicated to the public,
and is published, in oil its essential features
and telling points, in the columns of the
HERALD to-day. 1t is brilliant legal effort,
and its enunciation was maintained with much
force of logic to the close. The American
lawyers set out with the 'belligerent rights"
recognition Of the Confederates when in re-
bellion against the Union by the British
Grown in its ministerial communication to
Parliament, and also in the royal proclamation
in which the cruisers of the Confederacy were
treated as national vessels, and under which
they were afterwards permitted to coal and re-
fit in the colonial ports of the United King
dom. This American argument will, no
doubt exercise decided effect on the minds
of the arbitrators, and, mayhap, prove also to
England that it is with nations as with indi-
viduals-he is sbut naked, though locked up
in steel, whose conscience with injustice is cor
rupted." The United States argument in the
Alabama case supplies both the accusation and
the facts of proof of its truth.
We learn from Havana that the American
Consul, Mr.. Hull, and the English Consul
Mr. Dunlap, are actively engaged collecting
testimony regarding the Alabama claims, for
the purpose of forwarding it by telegraph to
the Geneva Court of Arbitration. Next to
Nassau, Havana, probably, can furnish more
evidence than any other place, for it was in
Cuba the rebel cruisers and blockade runners
found shelter and aid and carried on large
amount of business. The Confederate agent
at Havana was one of the most efficient Of the
rebel agents abroad, and if the archives of his
office could be obtained they would, no
doubt, throw great deal Of light on the sub
iect of the claims. The British Consul, Mr..
Dunlap, probably is not only searching
for evidence to rebut that produced
in support Of American claims against
Great Britain, but also in favor of English
claimants for seizures of cotton belonging to
British subjects by our blockading vessels and
cruisers. With these last mentioned claims,
however, the Geneva arbitrators have nothing
to do. They have to be decided by another
board or commission provided for by the
Washington Treaty. The principal cases
which are reported to be under investigation