Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-10
ESTABLISHED 1855.
aslisesllaneu,ts 8eading.
HOW NATIONS MAKE PEACE.
Manner In Which Neg egotiations Were Con-
Quoted With the Countries With Which
We Have Fought.

From the Kansas Clty Journai.
We are indebted to Mr.. Charles NJ
Harvey, the well-known journalist, for
an interesting resume of the manner
in which the United States went about
making peace with the countries with
which she had been at war. In her
history our nation has entered into
treaties of peace with three foreign
nations. The first of these was that
of 1888, at the close of the Revolu-
tionary war. In 1914, at the close OF
our second war with England, sim
liar treaty was made, and the third
and last was that with Mexico in 1S4S.
From the nature of things there could
be no treaties of peace with the revolt
ing American states, and our Civil war
came to a close without any agree
ments on the part of the victorious
side.
The treaty of 1888 was by far the
most important convention the United
States ever entered into with any
other country, because it signalized
the birth of new nation and brought
the world to recognition of our in
dependence. 1t was negotiated by
Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John
Adams and Henry Laurens, on the
American side, and Oswald, Fitzher-
bert and Strachey, on the British side.
"The extension of the United. States
domain to the Mississippi was, of
course, made possible by the conquests
of George Rogers Clark in Indiana
and Illinois in the latter part of the
war against England. This provision
of the treaty and the recognition by
England of the independence of the
United States were its most important
clauses. England retained Canada
and Nova Scotia, the navigation of the
Mississippi was to be open to the Unit
ed States and England, and the United
States was to have equal privileges
with England in the Newfoundland
fisheries. The preliminary treaty was
ratified in England and the United
States early in 1888, and definite
treaty covering the same ground and
finishing the transaction was signed
at Paris on September 8, 1888. At
about the same time peace treaties
were signed by England and the other
nations which had been in war with
her-France, Spain and Holland"
The second treaty of peace, also
with Great Britain, was framed at
Client, Belgium, in 1914, and ostensi-
bly, closed the war of 1912. The COM
missioners on the American side were
John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Jas.
A. Bayard, Albert Gallatin and Jona-
than Russell. England's were Lord
Gambler, Henry Goulborn and William
Adams. This treaty excited consider
able derision on both sides of the ocean,
for it was silent about the principal
issues which precipitated the war
which it settled. For instance, moth
ing was said about England's claimed
right to establish paper blockades and
to impress sailors from the American
ships on the theory that "once an Eng
lishman, always an Englishman." But
Notwithstanding these evasion the war
had accomplished much for American
rights, and England never again offen-
ded against American sailors.
The treaty Of Ghent was signed on
December "a, 1914. The battle OF
New Orleans was fought 15 days later.
The treaty did not reach the United
States until February II, 1915, when
the vessel bearing it arrived at New
York. 1t did not reach the presidents
hands until 80 days after the close of
the convention at Ghent and 81 days
after the battle of New Orleans. Many
more days then elapsed before Jackson
heard of it, and in the interim there
had been some of the bloodiest sea
fights in the history of the war. In
deed, the victory at New Orleans after
the official closing Of hostilities, was
the only really important victory gain
ed by the land armies of the United
States in the whole course of the war.
1t vastly helped the country's military
reputation and made Jackson presi-
dent.
The treaty between the United
States and Mexico was signed at Qua
dalupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1S4S.
It reafirmed the title of the Federal
Union to Texas, gave US title to New
Mexico and California and permanent
ly fixed number of disputed bounda-
ry lines. On our part we agred to
pay Mexico S15,OOO,OOO for her ceded
territory, and to assume So, ,250,0 900 in
claims owed by Mexico to American
citizens.
The Mexican war was similar TO
our present war with Spain in one re-
spect. During its progress the air fill
ed with rumors of European interYen-
ton in behalf of Mexico, but after
all the two countries were left alone
to fight to a finish an ! make their own
terms of peace. 1t is true that in the
present war the European countries
have more important interest at stake,
for we are leaving our own continent
and conquering foreign territory, but
it is none the less probable that the
history of Mexican war days will be
repeated and that Spain and the Uni
ted States will make their own peace