The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20
Anxious Deliberations and Slow
Conclusion.
The Administration Confident Of a Two
Thirds Majority.
Any Compromise to Ratify the
Disgrace.
Fish Pleading for It Before the
Committee.
ENGLISH HOPES FRIGHTENING.

xz&S0AA04A xAVx GO o0AUA 1 GNxNU
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1872.
The history OF the proceedings OF the Senate
regarding the pending protocol or amendment to
the Washington Treaty is simply as follows-
On Monday last the matter was referred to the
Foreign Relations Committee since which time
FIVE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD
by that body for Its consideration The natural I'M
pulse Of every member was averse to an immediate
acceptance or ratification of the new article Each
one Of them made desperate efforts to devise a
compromise for the escape Of the government from
Its present predicament but without result which
satisfied majority OF the committee On Friday
last the question was plainly put on agreeing and
disagreeing to report for ratification. The result
proved the correctness Of the HERALD's informa-
ton regarding the opinions Of the committee.
Messrs. Cameron, Harlan, Morton and Hamin were
in favor Of ratification. Mr.. Patterson, of New
Hampshire,
SUGGESTED A MODIFICATION,
and Messrs. Schurz and Casserly were in favor Of
rejection. AS soon as this result was arrived OF
in the premises was made by Mr. Morton, and, with
out taking decisive vote agreeing to any final
result, the committee adjourned until Saturday
morning. The Secretary having received from Mr..
Cameron an invitation be present at the meeting
yesterday arrived at the Capitol at nine O'Clock.
Messrs. Harlan and Patterson then presented sug-
gestions In the way of amendment. Mr.. Harlans
proposition, which amounted merely to q verbal
change, was accepted, and 1t was agreed, with Mr..
Fish's consent, that Mr. Patterson's amendment
should be submitted as an Independent proposition
with the majority and minority reports.
AT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION We srERDAY
there were accordingly three distinct propositions
onered-one for ratification, another for rejection,
and the third, which virtually renews the proposal
that this government shall persist in a settlement
at Geneva Of the question regarding the principles
OF indirect damages, but will not press for O money
award 1t is safe to repeat the assertion that not
withstanding all efforts to amend or modify, the
administration has sufficient strength
TO CARRY THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.
To test the feelings Of Senators the proposition to
accept the Supplementary Treaty will be submitted
in the form OF resolution, the passage OF which
will require but majority vote. But as it would
be useless for the President to accept advice
commentator Of bare majority, two-thlrds being
required to amend the treaty. he viii not be ad.
vised to send in the Supplemental Treaty unless
the resolution is
ADOPTED By A TwO-THIRDs VOTE
1t is certain that the verbal amendments Of the
protocol recommended by the committee will be
adopted before the resolution ia put upon its pass
age. They in effect take the wiry edge Off the pre-
amble, which asserts that 'the United States con-
sents," &C., and put the question In more &C
ceptable shape. In other words, the phraseology
employed by Granville in constructing the supple
mentary article has been changed so that It now
does
NOT APPEAR TO BE so MUCH OF A SUBMISSION
on the part Of our government as he intended.
There are certain members Of the Foreign Relations
Committee who are anxious to preserve the GER
tainty OF settlement OF the direct claims included
in the treaty, and who have insisted that the pro-
tocol, as 1t now stands may be construed 80 as to
interfere with that settlement. They have accord
ingly amended 1t so that forced construction on
these points can possibly occur to the disadvan
tage OF that class Of CLAIMS The result is that the
article will be
SUBMITTED IN THIS AMENDED FORM
1t should be understood that all these calculations
are based upon the superstition that the President
will finally send formal article to the Senate for
Its action. At present the Senate is acting In Its
advisory capacity, and will not be called upon to do
more than orer advice until 1t has sufficiently per-
fected the pending proposition to make 1t accept
able to two-thirds Of that body. After the amend
ments have been made, and it is found that two
thirds OF the Senate will accept them, 1t will be
necessary to submit the matter again to the British
government 1t is probable that
MORE THAN A WEEK WILL ELAPsE
before those amendments are perfected, and posi-
bly, month will then follow before final conclu-
| sion will be reached.