The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-20

i and Senate acted upon contrary persuasion,
tina simple result Is that we were both In en-.
ror in surprising we had come to any agree
mert at nil. One side intended one thing,
and the other another and the writing which
had been supposed: to express common
Thought. now that 1t Is discovered to cover
different meanings, fills to the ground.
It is upon this that we take our stand.
The nation is equally at one upon the course
| TO be pursued. We must give notice AZ
once-if, indeed, notice has not been already
given--to the arbitrator ind to the Amert-.
can Government that we repudiate the con-
struction which has been putupon the treaty
in the American case, and that we must With
draw from the arbitration ii this construc-
ton be insisted upon. But, this point rectl-
fed, we are ready to go on with The refer
ence with perfect loyalty to the terms OF the
treaty. We have agreed, with our eyes open,
to the principle that the rules of interna-
tional duty stated in the treaty shall have
retrospective application, and We have not
the remotest desire to recede from the con-
ccssions. All we pledged ourselXes to dove
arc ready and willing to perform; our oDlec-
ton extends no further than this-that we
must decline to be bound by engagements
| into which we have never entered.
| -
IF the misunderstanding about the claims
! for indirect damages be cleared away the rest
| of the reference to arbitration may proceed
smoothly. We may be held liable for onlls-
sions, or we may be eXoneratcd; that must
depend upon the judgment Of the arbltrl-
tors, and to it we are willing to defer. we
consented to it and we do not withdraw from
our word. 1t is altogether different with re-
spect to claims we never agreed 10 refer.
| They have come upon Us with surprise. we
had been assured over and oVeragaln, WITHIN
| the knowledge of the American Government,
that such had been withdrawn, and the prind
facie Interpretation OF the treaty agreed Win
this declaration. The British case itself Is evil
dence sufficient, drawn up as it clearly has
been without a suspicion that different
view was held in the United States. The
| mistake is most deplorable. 1t cannot be
contemplated without some strong feelings
of indignation against the easy good faith OF
those who fell into it; but it was genuine,
and it must be set right before anything fur
ther can be done under the treaty. II the
| American Government consent to reform
| their case, the arbitration may be happily
concluded; if they insist on their interpreted
| ton of the convention, the arbitration cali
not proceed.
" ENGLAND CANNOT PERMIT THE INDIRECT CLAIMS
TO BE EVEN SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD OF AR
BITRATORs." .#.
From the London Spectator of February3 ,.
Nothing can be glzlyer than the present
situation of this arbitration question. 1t
would be 4 calamity of the most fatal kind IL
either the American people should be per-
suadcd that England shows bad faith in
refusing. from the fear OF consequences, to
fulfill an obligation she had already dellbe-
ratev taken, or the English people were con-
WINGED that America has Intentionally desired
TO palm of upon us in one sense Il treaty
which she knew that our dipomatists and
statesmen had accepted in another sense.
Nevertheless, there is the greatest possible
danger that both these calamities may occur:
that America may be completely persuaded
that England, directly she saw the amount
of her possible liability, was determined to
break the f;ith she had pledged to abide by ar
bitl1,tion and that England may lie completely
persuaded that America used Il phraseoloSy III
the protocols, not only well adapted, but i'll
tended to mSlcad our diplomatists and state.
men into the belief that the Indirect claims
had been waived, and were not to be sui =
nittcd to the arbitrtors. five are to avoid
international evaporation OF the most daE-
ccrors kind, which might turn the intended
! instrument of peace and cancellation into
cause OF incalculabic bitterness, and perhaps
even of war, both peoples must 40 Their pest
10 enter into the difficulties Of the situation
on the other side Of the Atlantic. and deal ky
each other with the most ScrupuiouS candof
and fairness. That England cannot permit
the claims commonly called "indircct," and
so described by the American commission
ers themselves, to lie even submitted to tie
Board Of Arbitrator, we conceive to be be-
You'd question.
HOW THE QUESTION Is REGARDED IN IRELAND.
From the Dublin Nation of February.
Cousin Jonathan has proved too "smart'
| for Cousin John in the settlement OF that lit
tic family matter OF The Alabama Claims
| It is now quite certain that the Washington
Government will press claim Of e1i0O0O,-
600 for the indirect damages inflicted on the
United States by the acts Of the Confederate
cruisers and the stimulation given to Con-
fcdeIs,tc action by the encouragemcntreceived
from England. All the expenses incurred
by the extension Of the war beyond the stage
Of the battle Of Chattanooga are charged by
Washington against Great Britain, and this
liability, vast as 1t Is, would he trlle III cou.-
parison with what the Americans might de-
mand by way of constructive damages, if
the principle of compensation now sought
to be sustained were once admitted by
the arbitratols. That it may be so adj
mittcd is the deadly fear all over England
it this moment. and so terrible is this pros
Dcct, so bitter is the thought that the boosted
Washington treaty, extoled by England as Il
great achievement of the century, may turn
out to be the means of humiliation and vast
loss to England that the influential organs
of the country are crying out to the Govern
mcnt to rcpudiate the treaty unless the arti-
traitors declare at the very outset that they
will not allow the so-mlicll-dreaded claim.
OF course the abitrators will not tolerate such
Il course. England must either resign her
self to the chances Of the tribunal or with
draw her submission to the arbitrator in
stanty: in which latter case the difficulty
with America will be worse than it ever was,
and the prospect Of bloody aud expensive
war more imminent than at any former time.
Immigration.