The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-05

combated the views OF our administration. as ex-
pressed BY the President that the Geneva Commits
sion was In any sense Court. aud that England
and America were to appear before it as parties
with q grievance pleading suit and asking judg-
ment. Re urged upon our governments that this
view be abandoned, and that 1t be treated as an
amicable conference, anxious for settlement upon
such terms as would lead to lasting peace. He
commended that
THERE C0ULE BE NO PEACE
II we made the presentation OF our case in the
form Of an indictment against the British govern
ment for misconduct, or even as a civil proceeding
for damages. He believes that the surest way to
come to an agreement Is for America to aban-
don any underlined claim for consequential dam
ages and to. specify fixed gross sum
that will be accepted In lieu OF any
further claim upon England Secretary Fish Is
very much concerned. He does not see how we
can withdraw any claim as presented. He sees the
gravity OF the whole situation. and feels further
more. that II Sir Alexander Cockburn should with
draw from the Geneva Conference all hope or
AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT MUST ,ss AWAY.
We cannot, In honor, ask England to take part in
new treaty after England repudiates the present.
He feels deeper anxiety than the President for
peaceful settlement on the present basis. His fame
as q treaty maker and diplomatst Is at stake. the
60 before the country. and he cannot allow the ad
ministration to pass into the position OF amending
Its case before hearing
AT THE DEMAND OF ENGLAND
If England is sensitive the same sensitlveness
will be felt in America The Secretary is disposed
to agree with Sir Edward Thornton, that perhaps
common ground can be reached upon the basis OF
general gross sum for consequential damages.
his difficulty In presenting this view Will be found
In the character of General Grant, who IL known to
have very decided views upon the question: and to
be In the habit OF
PUTTING HIS FOOT DOWN
as firmly as jackson himself when he has made up
his mind. The position then, summed up is this:-
element upon the presentation Of claim which
ID roughly estimated at asOO 100000. Our people
reply that, as the English have not hesitated to
present the Confederate loan for payment. az an
offset to our just claims, they should not be sensi.
tive about statement Of case that exceeds their
own conception.
The Gladstone Ministry wish an amendment Of
the case that will relieve them from the embarrass
ment OF an excited public opinion that may over
throw them The administration does not choose
TO make SUCH retrocession from q carefully con-
sldered claim as will bring upon it
THE CONDENSATION OF THB COUNTRY.
few days Will develop the matter still further
and all friends Of peace hope that further confer
ence Will solve what seems to be q most embar.
RAISING problem. To this END Mr. Evarts Is about to
return to America for further instructions. full
and complete understanding Of this matter can
only be had BY a knowledge Of the points which the
United States claim established and Of the same in
gross which is demanded These facts which make
the important feature OF our case, have not yet
been published. The facts that the recognition OF
the insurgents by Great Britain belligerents on
had the effect OF actually creating them belliger-
ents-and this was erected exclusively from English
ports. the insurgents never appearing as belli.
gerents on the ocean excepting
IN TIE SHAPE OF BRITISH VESSELS,
constructed, equipped, supplied, manned and
armed in British ports-go to make up the first
four counts in the Indictment. The four following
counts are to the effect that. Notwithstanding our
remonstrance in every prescribed form against this
abuse Of neutrality. the persistent call to put stop
to 1t and the free acknowledgment OF
THE VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY
on the part of Great Britain ana the inefhcency Of
English law was 80 remarkable, and the refusal to
procure additional powers so absolute, that the
failure to check this Migrant abuse OF neutrality,
with the aid Of the hasty recognition Of the beii.
gerent character Of the insurgents, had the direct
effect Of destroying q large number Of our mer.
chant vessels on the ocean, and indirectly Of
DRIVING OUR COMMERCE. FROM THE SEAS.
On these eight points the concluding one Is based.
This, stripped Of all verbiage ana argument, re-
solves itself into the single proposition that II, In
the opinion OF the tribunal to settle the whole
question under the Treaty OF Washington, these
facts constitute no just claim against Great Britain
we must bow to the result: but IT, on the other
hand, Great Britain shall not be able to explain to
the complete satisfaction OF the arbitrator the
charges and proof which they present. the United
States will count upon an award to
THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DEMAND.