The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-06
Tho Treaty OF Washington.

1snseS, dateo washington, MarCh l, sayA:
The American reply to Earl Granville's
note was fully and finally agreed upon in
Cabinet meeting to-day, and was for
warded tonight, 30 as to take Saturdays
steamer from New York. It is perfectly
safo to say, from what is known of its
contents, that its reception by the Eng
lish Cabinet will not be the cause Of war.
On the contrary, 30 far as the tone OF the
reply is concerned, it is not only emf
nently pacific, but it is very suggestive.
by pointing out way to escape by which
the British Government can avoid its
present unpleasant dilemma. Much re-
gret and some surprise is expressed in
the reply that England should 80 inter-
pret the treaty as to lead to possible
re-opening of the question supposed to
be closed by the negotiations. The re-
cord OF tho negotiations, as written in
the protocols, is adduced to show that
the American mmissioners never
waived the claims for indirect losses ex-
cept when proposing to accept sum in
gross as an amicable settlement, which
proposition was rejected by tho British
Commissioners. Tie treaty itself is con-
sidered to show that tho presentation of
the claims is not barred and the action OF
the mixed commission in this city, in the
mntter of tho presentation of the Con-
federate cotton loan claims, which were
expressly excluded by the language OF
the treaty, is cited to show the action OF
this Government, when the positions of
the parties are precisely reversed. The
reply further states, and this is probably
the most important feature of it, that the
President is perfectly willing to submit
the question Of jurisdiction to the Gene
VIZ tribunal itself for decision, and the
British Government liz assured that the
President is far more anxious that the
international question involved i'm these
claims should be forever settled by this
tribunal. and thus removed from the
nreua of discussion and dispute, than he
Is TO obtnin any verdict of exemplary
damages. It. is confidently anticipated
here that the reception of this reply will
lie sentiment there, aud yet there is no.
thug whatever in it that indicates in the
least any receding from the position AS
eumed ut the outset There are many
people here whe do not believe the
treaty of Washington II thing Of the past
by any means.
| New York. March minister Glad-
stone, in his letter to O newspaper cor
respondent denying that he used IN his
spcech offensive language concerning the
Washington treaty attributed to him,
says:
Permit me to assure you that it is an
entire mistake to suppose that have
ever said that every rational mind must
see but ono meaning in the treaty of
Washington Nothing would have in
tiuced me- to use such au expression.
The limit OF my assertion, stated briefly,
was and is as follows: L believe the
meaning of the treaty to be clear and
unambiguous, according to auy legiti-
mate test whatever which can be applied
to it, This proposition am, OF course,
ready to sustain in argument; but every
other person is entitled to think, if he
see cause, what hold to be clear and
nnambiguous is dark and doubtful, or
that it is clear and unambiguous in O
sense contrary to mine. What trust is,
that others, upon q close examination,
will not seo cause to think any such
thing. This point little time and pa
tience cannot full thoroughly to eloci-
date. Setting aside the remark which I
did not make, and which think open to
severe animadversion, 1 have always
understood, and still understand, that
any man is at liberty to hold and state
| Will tu6 UTMOST commence an opinion
AS to the meaning Of the document, aud
this have done, without being open to
the charge Of wha; conceive to be q
gross offence, namely, his prcsuming to
restrain for others the liberty which he
claims himself. Iudeed, speaking ac-
cording to the usagcs and habits of Eug-
lish public life, l feel as if the ntterancu
of such proposition were not 80 mucll
OF truth as truism. If. however, this
truth or truism be applicable to doou-
ments in general, it req tires bnt mode.
rate share Of modesty to adopt it in the
case Of documents such as the treaty and
its protocols"
Sir Stafford Northcote, who wns one
of the High Joint Commissioners on the
treaty of Washington, writes to the Lon
don Gl,be, excepting to tho unfavorable
comment Of thnt journal upon tho pro
motion of Lord Ripon to Marquisate
for his services on the Commission, anC
says that the ex-Commissioners are silen
upon the charges of negligence, sloven
liness and other faults, which have beer
made against them, from disposition
not to further compioate the nnfortu
nate difficulty, which he trusts may ye
be satisfactorily solved
.