Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-07
WASHINGTON. |
More Of the Alabama Bungle.
Confessed Failure Of Grants Di-
plOmacy.
The Foreign Committee Called in
Ebe Treaty OF VvashinstOn a Failure.

II NEW Otkik, 1laI Os--1He H6f0La states
that Earl Granville response to the Anieri-
can proposition that the British Govern
ment would propose 20 establish an inter-
/ national principle covering the liability of a
neutral for consequential damages, was
considered at meeting of the President
/ and Cabinet and members of the Congress
sional Foreign Committee.
The proposition of Granville is as fol-
lows: That the United States Withdraw
the claims for consequential damages from
the Geneva tribunal, Great Britain still
maintaining that they are outside of the
| provisions Of the treaty; that in future wars
| whenever either nation is belligerent and
| the other neutral, the neutral shall not be
held responsible for indirect or consequen-
tial damages in claims arising in similar
manner and under similar circumstances
with the claims to which the treaty of
Washington refers.
This was a surprise TO the President,
who, finding that diplomacy had failed,
called in the mem 5ers of the Congressional
Foreign Committees, to whom he stated
his anxiety to save the treaty, but not at
the sacrifice of any principle, and having
failed to obtain such proposal from Eng
land as he expected, he was in favor of
Withdrawing Minister Schenck's instruc-
tions, and leaving the whole matter as at
first, before the Geneva Tribunal.
Republican members of the House Com
mittee stated that they thought the ques-
ton of consequential damages never should
have been put in the case, but as they were
there, and the honor of the nation thus in
volved, the committee were willing to do
anything consistent with their position TO
strengthen the President in the stand it
may be necessary to make.
The President said it was not for him to
say what should be the final attitude of the
country. While recognizing the authority
conferred, he was anxious that the imme-
diate representatives of the people should
know the true condition of affairs, and he
relied on the committee to stand by him in
case it should be necessary to abandon the
treaty.
In response TO a remark as to the extra
ordinary measure of calling in the commit
tee, Secretary Fish said they were not
| called on for advice, but support.
Mr.. Amber of Ohio, responded by saying
that if support was expected it was just
that the Democratic members of the COM
mittee should also have been invited, and
| he (Ambler) would not imperil the inter-
ests of the Republican party by advocating
a policy iniInical to the success of the party.
Mr.. Willard agreed with Mr.. Amber,
and positively declared the mistakes of the
Administration could not be fastened on
the Republican party by any measure of
expediency.
Thus terminated the interview. After
their withdrawal the President and Secre-
tary Fish finally decided that Granville's
proposition was unacceptable; that we
cannot recede from our case as presented
at Geneva, and dispatch to that effect was
telegraphed to Minister Schenck.
CONSTITUTIONAL.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-Representative
Poland to-day introduced an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States,
providing that no Senator or Representa-
tive shall, during the time for which he
was elected, be chosen President nor Vice
President; nor shall any Judge of any
United States Court be chosen President
or Vice-President within two years of the
termination of his judicial office.
The Court of Claims.
The House Committee on Appropriations
this morning had under consideration the
Senate amendment to the deficiency apprO-
priation bill, and voted ,non-cOncuTTence In
the so-called Morrill, amendment, restrict
ing jurisdiction of the Court of Claims
to cases commenced within two years Of
the Suppression of the rebellion by constant
ly loyal claimants.
Patent Drill.
The House Committee on Patents has
under consideration the propriety of ex-
tending ToWle's rock drill patent, which
expired last month of existence twenty
one years. There is strong opposition of
further extension as the matter affects the
interest of all railroad and mining compa-
nies.
Texas Contestants.
The House Committee on Elections to-
day unanimously agreed to report in favor
of Giddings, Democrat, against Clark, the
sitting member from the third district of
Texas; also in favor of A. w. Wallace, the
sitting member from the fourth district of
South Carolina retaining, his seat.
Supreme Court Adjourned.
The Supreme Court delivered few de-
cisions of minor importance, and adjourned
till Oct. 2S. A number of important cases
go ever till the fall session.
House Investigation of the Sale of
Arms.
Mr.. Acker, of Pennsylvania, from the
minority of Committee on Expenditures
in the Var Department, submitted report
to-day in reference to the sale of arms to
France. The report states that the greater
number of witnesses examined were officers
of the War and Ordinance Department or
were connected Herewith and insists
In the first place that the War Depart
ment gave a latitudinary construction on
IL. s of T,irr
thOrizing the sale of damaged arms, ord
nance stores, etc, is dangerous to a repubi-
can form of government where a strict con-
struction of al the acts Of Congress ought
to be the rule.
Secondly. That the War and Ordnance
Department must have or could have
known, if they had made enquiry, that the
bulk of arms were going to France, as they
were delivered at the pier in New York
city which was the pier of the French
steamers, and at which French vessels were
in the habit of landing, and that some of
these arms were delivered directly on board
the French steamers from the lighters in
the presence of persons in the employ of the
Ordnance Bureau at New York city, and
that some were delivered in boxes marked
r. F., which vas generally understood TO
mean French Republic; also, that some Of
the guns were delivered after the 18th of
October, 1870, the day on which it became
Enthusiastically s.known that the Remingtons
were agents Of the French government.
Leaving the question Of violation of the
neutrality laws to be argued, the proceed
ing might have been taken as a pretext by
a government more captious than Prussia, |
and the country might become involved in !
all the horrors of war
As TO the financial transactions, it appears |
that the whole amount for which the guns
were stated to baEo been sold was paid into |
the Treasury Department, except S219,- !
70533,E which is said TO have been ex-
pended in transportation and getting the |
guns ready, but the items of this expendi- |
ture are not given. There is no evidence
that any person except one received any
pay or commission from this sale, and he
was not connected with any department Of
the government. He received $4,000 from
a firm of arms dealers in Baltimore on &C
count of q sale to it from the Navy Depart
ment. He states tlat he received the
money as commissions and that no other
person got any portion of the money.
Mormon ApOstates: