The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07


rights and all its privileges.
The modification resulting rom the unhappy mis-
take OF Saturday last and its denunciation by Mr.
Wood, Is Increased by the tenor OF the latest ad-
vices nom London. When it was semi-of1cially
announced, on Thursday morning last, that should
Great Britain propose to stipuate in the event that
the United States neutral should not be liza
bic for remote or consequential injuries or losses
resulting rom failure to observe her duties as
neutral that an arrangement OF the nature indi-
Gated might be accepted by the United States,
there was every reason for Secretary Fish believ
ing, from the tenor of General Schenck's ds
spatches, that such a proposal was about to be
made and the statement was given to the press to
prepare the country for the solution of the dinicul-
ties anticipated. This record having been made It
is now impossible to deny 1t. The British Minister
on Thursday morning, recognizing the official
tone OF the article as published here, Immediately
telegraphed to Earl Granville what had been done
by the State Department, thus giving the British
Ministry the opportunity to profit by our prema-
ture exposure of the new position taken up, and
from which we could not consistently retreat Sa-
gacously pushing this advantage the British Minis
try advised Earl Granville to maintain the atti
tude that had been assumed before Parliament, and
to encourage no expectation Of a concession such
as was invited. The despatch Of Earl Granville to
Mr. Thornton, on Thursday night, after the Cabinet
session, was based upon this advice. The expected
proposition on the part OF the United States was
not misunderstood. 1t was argued that we had
presented In our case claims for consequential
damages, and had distinctly prefaced that portion
OF the case with the caption 1.-The tri-
bunal should award sum In gross
to the United States.' AS the Geneva Board could
only act In judicial capacity 1t was impossible
even admitting the claims were within the treaty
for the arbitrator to establish international prn
cipe, such as We declared we were only c0ntendlng
for, when 1t was distinctly avowed that pecunary
award was asked. The proposition of Earl
Granville to us must necessarily be based
upon the English construction OF the
treaty, and with the information received that day
from Washington, together with the premature
publication OF the attitude Of our government, it
only remained to ask us II we waived our pre-
tended claim under the treaty. II so, then Her
Majestys government was willing to admit that
she would not ask for consequential damages
under circumstances similar to those which the
United States claimed had justified her presenta-
ton OF such claim.
This was the proposition which reached the State
Department on Friday. We had automatically
lshed for easy solution of the difficulty and
the result stated in these dispatches of yestcr-
day which occasioned the meeting at the State
Department on Saturday.
The President, tired and disguised with the
efforts made to patch up the case firmly declared to-
day that there was but one solution of the question
He said to q Cabinet officer, "YOu may rely
upon it will not sanction, from this time forth,
any suggestion for the disposal of the controversy
1t must meet its fate at Geneva. We have declared
to the whole world that the question OF consequent
Ia for tha ifrot oro IN dacif1 In
and If England takes the responsibility Of denying
it our government cannot be blamed. l will not
back down or withdraw our case"
1t is stated tonight that despatch OF this tenor
was sent to General Schenck reply to the Brit
ish proposition OF Thursday last. The result Is
already anticipated in official circles, and failure
of the treaty apprehended. The President has been
painfully aware, for weeks past of the unpleasant
position in which the Secretary Of State has placed
the country by his management Of this whole
business. Early in April he consulted with his
personal friends as to the propriety OF making
change in the head of the State Department, but
was advised that such step at that time would be
construed as evincing want Of confidence In Mr..
Fish, and would poorly excuse his long retention
at the head OF the State Department. Mr.. Fish,
too, feels deeply mortified at the condition of af-
fairs and the embarrassment he has caused the
administration. 1t has been favorte expression
with him, when approached for information which
he did not feel at liberty to give, that he was only
the Presidents clerk, and that he was the proper
person to apply to. This assumed diplomatic title
Is now literally true, for the President dictates
what must be sent to Schenck and Fish merely
does the clerical work. The President has taken
the field in person and has assumed command of
the State Department.
VIII Grant Withdraw from the P4esi-
Dental Canvass
1t is useless to deny the very evident fact that the
Greeley -Brown ticket is growing in favor. AS the
impulse on the part of the democrats In support OF
the proposition for regular ticket dies away, it
certainly is dying away, the feeling in favor Of
other candidate at Philadelphia than General
Grant finds an increase of friends. The propo-
sition, or superstition, that Grant would
withdraw, originally looked at as pre-
postcrous is now matter of seri-
GUS consideration. whispered suggestions that
either Blaine or Boutwell, would make better run
against Greeley than Grant have grown in strength
OF utterance, until now they are talked aloud in
the departments and at the Capitol. The number Of
democrats who have retreated from theft first de-
clarations of opposition to the Cincinnati nOmina-
tions Is greater to-day than 1t was yesterday,
and will be still greater tomorrow. In
fact, it is now among the probabilities
as well as the possibilities, of the future
that Mr.. Greeley will receive the democratic
endorsement. Republicans who up to recent
date have been acknowledged Grant men now adj
nit that Grant is the only stumbling block in the
way of reorganization OF the old party in all its
strength and purposes. "Why, then" they say,
'shal we not put up some other men, like Blaine or
Boutwell, in whose favor Mr.. Greeley cannot fail to
withdraw, and thereby reduce the canvass to an
old -raa md hafw dam nd
publicanss"
The south Carolina Contested Seat.
The House Committee on Elections to-day decided
to report in favor of A. s. Wallace, the sitting
member from the Fourth South Carolina district
The indictment Of Mr.. Wallace by the South Caro-
lima courts for perjury, in taking the ironcad OATH
1t Is said will soon be Effected. In 1862, at York.
vile, In that State, he made speech to Confed-
crate battalion, urging them to go and fight ard
win glorious Names like the patriots OF Kings
Mountain, and promising to send his youngest
son--his eldest having already ensted-intO the