The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-10
. ASHIN CT 0 N.
INDIRECT CLAIMS QUESTION
he Conference a Failure.
The Amnesty Bill Defeated.
Vote on the Amendment a Tie.
special Dispatch to the Register b. the T.
& A. Telegraph Line.

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY ,.
THE Indirect Claims Question.
The fact was made public, some
months ago, that the American counsel
before the Geneva Conference are not
altogether satisfied with the American
statement OF the case as filed in Decem-
Der at Geneva, and it is now asserted
that the dissatisfaction arose in conse-
auence of claim for indirect damages
being included in our case, and
that Messrs. Evarts and Gushing were
of the opinion that this. claim
would have to be withdrawn
before a satisfactory conclusion as to
the pending controversy could be had
at Geneva. Notwithstanding the
cloud which surrounds the discus
sion OF the American claim, two facts
stand out very clearly. First, that
England will not consent to refer the
claims to arbitration as they stand at
present; and second, that the United
States Government will not modify its
case. 1t is useles then to attemp to con-
rpal the fact that the Geneva Conference
is a failure. The most hopeful attempt
ever made at the settlement OF our
national difference by arbitration has
broken down at the very start. The
Alabama claims are probably destined
to be included among the numerous
permanently unsettled disputes which
cause i'll feeling between nations and
threaten the peace of the world.
The Amnesty Bill Defeated
The Amnesty bill today, after a
discussion extending over six hours,
was finally defeated by the Senators in
consequence Of the adoption of Sum-
ner's Civil Rights amendment. The
radiant Senator from the Pacific coast
made frequent but unsuccessful at
tempts to incorporate a provision de-
priving the Heather Chinee Of the
protection OF our laws. Mr.. Upton made
a very earnest argument against Federal
encroachment on the rights OF the
States, aud predicted that the day was
not far distant when the people would
overturn the unconstitutional legislation
by force, if necessary. When the vote
was being taken on the Sumner amend
ment the interest was most intense,
Mr.. Sumner and others gathering
around the desk and watching the pro-
gress Of the roll call. When the call
was completed it was found that the vote
was tie, Mr.. Kellogg, OF Louisiana,
who was present, refusing to vote. The
Vice President hesitated for an instant
and then gave the casting vote in the
affirmative, which twas received with
great applause by the negroes
in the galleries. The adoption OF the
amendment, it was conceded, was the
defeat of the bill, the Democrats and
several Republican Senators having be.
fore stated that they would vote for
it with that amendment. Messrs. Ed.
munds, Morton and Scott then made
bitter and malignant attacks on the
Southern people, and Sumner, Conk-
ling and others of that clique exhibited
great glee at their success. A final vote
was reached shortly after ! o'clock,
when the bill was lost for want of the
Constitutional two-thirds. All the Dem
ocrats voted, and eighteen Republican
Senators voted in the negative. An
effort will shortly be made to take up
the amnesty bill passed by the House,
with better hopes Of success.
ALPHA