The New York Herald Newspaper, April 24, 1872, Page 5

+ those THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. The British Counter Case and the Indirect Claims, THE GENEVA ARBITRATION. What is England Going to Do About It? The Suhject Before the Lords and the Commons. The Conditions Under Which England’s Counter Oase Was Sent to Geneva—Mr. Sehenck’s Opinion on the Matter. Lonpon, April 13, 1872. ‘The American claims was made the subject of some discussion in the British Parliament last night. Both Lords and Commoners had their say about the Geneva arbitration. In the House of Lords the Earl of Stanhope, in pursuance of a Rotice on the paper, asked what course Her Majesty’s government proposed to pursue in respect to the counter case of the British government in the matter of the Alabama claims, which counter case, according to the stipulalioos of the Treaty of Wash- ington, would be presented at Geneva on the 15th ef this monrh. He asked whether in consequence of the indirect claims it was intended to omit any counter claims on behalf of the British government; and if the counter claims were to be he de- aired to know of what nature Ihey were tp be. Earl GRANVILLE in reply said Her Majesty's gov- ernment had only the day before yesterday come toa decision as to the course to be pursued. They had most carefully considered the points Faised, not only as to the admission of other than @irect claims, but also as to whether their taking any steps in the matter at the present moment might not compromise the position they had assumed. The result was that they had come to the conclusion that they could safely and without judice to their position present counter claims oxaing xely with such as came under the category of dire: claims, accompanying these with a representation to the tribunal of Geneva that the case was submitted without preju- dice to the ) sag oe assumed by the English government their correspondence with the government of the United States, and expressly Feserving to themselves the right to ‘withdraw should the present difficulty continue. He had been in communication with the American Minister on the subject, and a Sema ree ago it was the opinion of that gentleman that the counter case of the English government might be Reena without prejudice, an opinion which he had since stated hed been confirmed by the Ameuzican ernment; and only the oy before yesterday the aration accompanying the counter case had been forwarded from the Foreign Office to the American Minister. As soon as the declaration and counter case had been submitted to the Geneva tri- bunal Lord Granville would have them laid before their Lordships. Karl RUSSELL, who thought that the government bad not oy their recent action escaped from the didicul which they had been involved, gave notice that on Monday, the 22d inst., he would move an address to Her Majesty, praying her to ive instructions that all proceedings on behalf of ler yy woe before the arbitrafion at Geneva, as to the Treaty of Washington, be suspended until the claims included in the case submitted on behalf of the United States, understood on the part of Her Majesty's government not to be within the province of the arbitrators, has been withdrawn. Duke of RicuMonp said he understood that the counter case was to be submitted without pre- ser but he wished it to be understood that there should be no possibility of the arbitrators saying to the English government, ‘You have complied with the terms of the treaty and putin your counter vase, and therefore, notwithstanding what you say, we shall go on with the arbitration, and, if need be, ‘we will decide behind your backs.” . Earl GRANVILLE said that whether the counter claims were sent in or not the arbitration might go on age! thought fit. Lord WEstsury pointed out that when the issues were fully raised and the arbitrators were duly ad- vised of the matters to be submitted to them the arbitration would go on, and if it was not tntended that judges should be clothed with ywers to discuss the whole of the matters before om, it would be most inconvenient to take any farther step until the extent of their jurisdiction was determined. Earl GRANVILLE said he had been careful to put the point so that the English government shonld tt be compromised with regard to the admission the indirect claims, and in this he was conilrmed by the American government. Earl Grey was not at all surprised, after the statement made by the noble earl, the Foreign Sec- retary, that the noble ear! on his left (Earl Russelt) should have poor it necessary to give notice of the motion he had that night handed in. ‘The Marquis of SaLisBuRY regretted that the course taken by the government had done away with their chance of protesting against the jurisdic- tion of the Tribunal of Genena as to the indirect claims, because after whai they had done the case might goon, and the arbitrators might award a lump som as damages without specifying the class to which they belonged. Lord PENZANCE said all that was wanted was that the govegnment should be left in a position render- img them free, on receiving the answer of the American government as to the course they pro- da to take with regard to the indirect claims, to withdraw from the arbitration. From the state- ment of the noble earl (Earl Granville) he gathered that this object had been secured. The Duke of SOMERSET thought that the course taken by the government had seriously implicated the position assumed by this country with regard to the indirect claims, and argued that they ought to have refused to present the counter case until the indirect claims had been withdrawn, This, he contended, was the intention of the country, and it ought to have been carried out by the government. ra few words from Lord Denman and Lord Colonsay, the subject dropped. THE SUBJECT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr, RATHBONE asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty’s government had sent or would send the counter case to the arbitrators at Geneva. Mr. GLADSTONE replied that the counter case had been forwarped by Her Majesty's government to the arbitrators at Geneva, and it would be lodged in their nands before the 16th instant. He might also state that together with the counter case & note or statement had been sent in on the part of Her Majesty’s government, reserving all Tights, and explaining the conditions under which the counter case had been sent. General Schenck had been informed of this step, and he believed that he had communicated with his government, and that they had instructed him that it woul mot affect, in their opinion, the position of cither party. Mr. Disragzwt said this reply had anticipated his question in a great measure, but he still wished to inquire whether the government was prepared to Place papers on the table, so that the country might have a clear conception of the conditions wnder which the government had felt it to be their duty to make their replication or counter | He need not remind the House that unless | case. that had been done before the 15th April the whole proceedings would lapse; but the counter ase certainly ought to have been accompanied with a statement of the reasons and conditions upon which, they being under this necessity, had lodged their counter case. Much was due to the government in this difficulty, but something was algo due to the English people; and he could not | ‘but think that it was proper for him to urge upon the ernment whether they did not feel it to be their ay to publish these conditions together with their counter case, so that the country couid be perfectly satisfied that in sending in the counter case the ernment had not, either directly or indirectly, Stxnowicagea the justice of the indirect claims, | for on that point there ought to be no misunder- standing whatever. ‘He also inquired whe ther the eminent Judge to whom the duty of representing this country had been entrusted would regame his | functions, Mr, GLADSTONE was understood to intimate that Ohief Justice Cockburn, to whom the government felt much indebted, would continue to discharge his duty.as one of the arbitrators. Her eehicn government felt deeply the forbearance with which they had been treated by all sides of the 1 and, although they had fully anticipated it, they not the less cheerfully appreciated it, A similar forbear- ance had been exercised by the legislative bodies on the other side of the Atlantic. They also were tally aware of the publicanxiety which prevailed on this matter. He would remind the House that there were two series of documents—one belonging to the communications relating to the treaty and to the arbitration at Geneva, and the other to the com- munteations which had passed with respect to the cases which were to be lodged. With respect to the counter case itself he could not name the precise day, but it would be laid on the table as soon as possible. With respect to the correspamdence, the reply of the American government to #arl Gran- le’s_note of February was received on the 14th of March; @ reply to that was transmitted on the 20th of that month, and would be in the hands of the American government egrly in April. There wag not, therefore, yet time for the reception of their reply, and it would not be friendly or scareely becoming or conducive to lendly feell which both sides were 80 anxious to cultivate if they were to state the course which they might intend ursue, until they were aware of the iner in whieh the American fe ernment intended ‘to act_upon the note of the 20th March. The course of Her Majesty's rnoment Would depend npon the character of reply of American government to that note. He could at forther & ‘assure the House that the government ‘was most anxious to make the House fully ac- quainted with the steps which it had taken, and ‘with all the circumstances of the case. Mr. Deena had no wish to press upon the gov- ernment for tile publication of the correspondence which was still being carried on, What he wanted to impress on the government was that the whole country were desirous of knowing what were the conditions under which the government. sent in their replication or counter case, which, on the surface, was a most hazardous step, but proba- bly quite justifiable, seeing that it must be lodged fore @ 15th of April, before there wac @ pores of receiving the American reply to Earl Granville’s last note, That po ot first sight, might appear to recognize the justice of the indirect claims; and the goverument ought not to have taken this hazardous but still perfectly justifiable step, in order to prevent the treaty from lapsing, without also sending in some document stating their reasons for doin, 80. He wished to know if this document woul be laid on the table in order that Parliament and ~ country might know what the government had lone, Mr. GLADSTONE had intended to convey that the note or statement, which he had explained had been sent in with the counter case, would be laid on the table at the same time with the counter case. ‘The subject then dropped. The British Counter Case—The Duty of the Government. {From the London Times, April 12) * * * Weare now on the eve of the last day for delivering the counter case. It must be pre- sented to the Arbitrators on Monday, if it is to be presented at all. Assuming, we may assume, that it will be presented, we must ask that the significance this step be well weighed and considered, be the first formal act done before the Arbitrators since the character of the American case has be- come known to us; and, in consenting, as we do, to put in a counter case, we are bound ‘to take care not only that we know our own meaning, but that the arbitrators shall know our meaning, and the American Lidghe eo shall know our meaning, in putting itin. We take this step, because if we did not the arbitration would at once lapse, and be- cause there remains another interval during which the American Cabinet may repair the erro involved in the construction of their case. If it were not for this second consideration the first, of itself, powerful as it must be, would not induce us to send in a reply. T'wo months after the delivery of the counter case the agent of each government must deliver to each of the arbitrators written or printed arguments showing the points and evidence on which Rasa reennieae relies, and thereupon the more active duty of the parties to the arbitration closes and that of the arbitration begins, At that stage, therefore, we may and must retire tf the American government do not beforehand renounce the prmenmons <2 Oy consequential damages em- bodied in thetr case, We do not retire now, be- cause there remains this further opportunity for doing 80 without having compromised our inde- pendence. But, as we ourselves understand that we shali, whatever pain and reluctance we may feel, retire on the 16th of June if the claims preferred before the arbicrators are not by that time reduced to the limits of the arbitration to which we agreed, we are bound to give the American government the clearest possible notice of our resolution, and to notify to arbitrators that the step we take now ie without prejudice to our argument that their authority does not extend to the consideration of conta ntia} 39! that the plainest manner, and the simplest and most effectual way af clinching them ts to be found in de- clarations made in Parliament under Ministerial My. here should be no appearance of uncertainty about our intention. The mischief to be most carefully guarded against is that the American Government should dally with the difficulty which has arisen under the delusion that in the end we may give way. There ought to be no ba sibility of their entertaining this error. he language of Mr. Bright’s letter to Mr. Tug Field, which has been eae in the United States, “This country will not go into @ court to ask for an award which, if against it, it will never accept. An award against it in the matter of indi- rect damages will never be paid, and therefore the only honest course is to object now, before going into Court,” ought to dispel all illusions as to the unanimity and ey of cur determiffarion; but there is too strong evidence that such illusions are still lingering at Washington. What is the mean- ing of the last telegrams which have been re- celved from the other side of the Attantic? Weare told that the Cabinet of Washington has done nothing with respect to Lord Granville’s note:—“All action is postponed until after infor- mation has been received of the proceedings at Geneva on Monday.” What is this but a state- ment that the American government is waiting see how far we shall commit ourselves in our counter case? The President and his Cabinet are willing to trust to the chapter of accl- dents and the presure of time upon our reso- lution, We cannot, of course, prevent their doing this, but we may let them understand that if they expose the arbitration to the chances of the future they do so at their own risk. We, at least, are not trusting to accidents, for our plan of actyon is per- fectly shaped beforehand and we have no hesitation in explaining what it will be under any contin- gency. We cannot attach thesame significance to the proceedings of the House of Representatives; but, so far as it goes, this branch of Congress copies the'policy of the Cabinet in waiting upon the future, It must, indeed, be remembered that the House of Representatives has no direct means of knowing what may be the course of negotiations be- tween the two governments; but we can scarcely suppose that it has not been indi- rectly informed of the exact position of the contro- versy. What, then, has the House of Representa- tives done? We are informed that one of its mem- bers brought in @ resolution pronouncing judgment entirely in our favor on the difficulties that have arisen, and the House dexterovsly shelved it by re- re | ferring it to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The resolution, as reported, was, without doubt, deci- sive. It began with a recital that the submis- sion of the indirect claims was contrary to the meaning of the treaty, and that the extended obligations of neutrals. set forth in the case were incompatible with American precedents, and it then proposed to declare that, in the opinion of the House, these claims were waived by the intimation of the American Commissioners that they would be waived in case of an Amicable | settlement. This will be recognized as an embodi- ment of our leading argument, and it could not be expectid that the House of Representatives wouid accept it; but two months since it would have been rejected or immediately withdrawn. It is now laid aside in sucha form that it can be brought up again if it should ever seem advisable, or be left to slumber undistdrbed if that course be preferred. If the House of Representatives does not wait upon us it waits upon the American government, which waits upon us. Is the opinion of either or both as to our tenacity so low that neither the government nor the House can be persuaded that it is vain to wait for any wavering in our resolution? ‘The course to be pursued before the arbitrators on Monday is so plain that it cannot be mistaken, We shall deliver our counter case, but we must ac- | company it with a protest that we do not allow that | the claims for consequential damages preferred in the American case are included in the reference to arbitration, or that it ts within the province of the arbitrators to determine whether they are or are not intend, to avail ourselves, of witharawing at the next stage of the proceedings if the claim for con- sequential damages be not abandoned in the interval. The respect for the Board which in- duced us last year to refer to their arbitration the claims we have referred remains undiminished; but the principle of arbitration itself would be hopelessly damaged if we did not insist on restraining the reference within the limits to which both governments had agreed. What nation would ever again permit a difficulty with another country to be referred to friendly judgment if it were once allowed that the mere fact of an arbi- tration having been agreed fpon gave the arbitra- tors jurisdiction and authority to decide upon any- thing and everything which elther litigant might in- sist on bringing before them’ So far from soliciting a : judgment of the arbitrators upon the construction of the treaty, we must deprecate any expression of opinion from them upon it, and, indeed, we may be certain that respect for their own dignity will re- strain the arbitrators from making any declaration as to the meaning of the Convention when they have been given to understand that it would | have no authority. The counter cass itself should not enter into any argument as to the admissibility | of the consequential ciaims. It should treat them as @ mere nullity, to be expunged or otherwise removed from the case before the next stage is | reached. We shali thus have done all that can be required of us, leaving to the other side the re- | sponsibility of deciding whether the arbitration is to | pees or to become abortive. It was through the inclusion by their draughtsmen of claims we never referred to arbitration that the difficulty has arisen, and if the dimeculty is to be removed it must be retracting the false atep which provoked. We shail await the issue with no unworthy anxiety, feeling that we have not stinted any etfort to render it one ef peace and friendship. The Indirect Claims—Mr. Peters’ Resolu- lutions in the American Congross, Cen- suring Indirect Claims—How the Diffi- culty Might Be Settled. {From the London Standard, April 12.) * * The indirect claims were, indeed, the | creation of Mr. Sumner's vindictive imagination, | prompted by a frantic animosity towards Presi- | dent Johnson, and a desire to defeat the | treaty negotiated by the President's namesake | and nominee. We can quite believe that if the claims turn out to be unpopular General Grant and his advisers would gladly hold that imprac- tieable and revengeful politician answerable for a case which Mr. Bright! in a letter i! published, aptly describes CE ing bag hd biog poe than statesmans' more resei 7 s- sionate speech tha a thonghtfal state docn- ment. This letter of Mr. Bright's is well-timed and patriotic. It will Impress some Americans with a sense of the weakness of their case to find it thus condemned by an English politician who on no 4 vious occasion has been able to believe either that America could be wrong or that Mngland could be right—who has always worshipped most ardently the weakest parts of their constitution, and at- sached hii most fervently to their most extrav- included ; and further, that we tender our counter | case without prejudice to the privilege, of which we | Mal . agant parties and most violent tesmen. The men who are mainly answerable for the intem- perance which Mr. Bright so warmly reproves are Mr, Bright's peculiar friends, and if Mr. Sumner could listen to argument or defer to authority none that England could produce would have more weight with him than those of the member for Bir- mingham. A more significant and satisfactory in- cident is the introduction in the House of Representatives of a resolution distinctly censuring the indirect claims, both as contrary to the true meaning of the treaty and as inconsistent with the doctrines always maintained by Americ? asaneutral Power, * * bd Mr. Peter: the mover, has hit no arguments which, if well enforced and clearly illustrated, ought to make a powerful impression on his countrymen, Putting aside the treaty altogether, and supposing it were their right to prefer such claims, it certainly is not their policy to do so. For what they insist upon against us may in turn be exacted from them by some other Power when they themselves are neutrals, and neutrality is thelr normal attitude. It is questionable enough whether it be their in- terest—as it is ours—to esrablish the liability of neutral States for the escape of vessels from their ponte: to prey upon the commerce of a belligerent; fo, no pig | has sent out half so many such vessels as the United States, and no country will find it half so dificult in future to repress the adven- turous semper and commercial enterprise of her citizens when fame and money are to be acquired, or national s{mpathies indulged, by engaging in such undertakings in defiance of the law. Engjand herself may already use the American claims with formidable effect against America. For ¢f a State be ble for the clandestine escape af a maratime expedition, it is a fortiori answerable for the open march across its frontier of a military JSorce, and it lies with us at any time to insist on redress Jor the Fenian invasions of Canada which are excepted from the tion af the Treaty af Washington. If, then, erica could succeep in establishing the principle that neutral States must. be liable to pay, not only for every direct loss of Property inflicted ba violations of neutrality, jut also for all its supposed political and con- structive consequences, she would be the first to suffer from the application of the doctrine, and would find thyt she had forged a most formid- able weapon for the disturbance of her peace ane the destruction of the advantage she has hitherto derived from her exceptionally neutral situation. This is a point which, when they come to consider it, cannot but weigh with the American eoveraiuen and people; as similar considerations We already caused President Grant to assert the absolute right of a sovereign Power to recognize belligerency when it pleases, and consequently to repudiate the complaints of Mr. Sew- ard against the recognition of Southern bel- ligerency by Great Britain. However friendly the feelings of the two countries may remain, the diplomatic diMiculties of the situation will still be serious, inasmuch as it is, even in Mr. Bright's opinion, utterly impossible for England to allow of the submission of the indirect claims to arbitration, and it is at least extremely dificult for the federal government, at this stage of the controversy, to withdraw them. ST. GEORGE'S DAY. Anniversary Banquet at Delmoni- co’s Last Evening. Important Speech of the British Minister. He Suggests that We Can Waive Our Claims for Consequential Damages Without Dishonor. ETN ace el Cyrus Field Curses National Mis- chief Makers. The St. George’s Society of this city celebrated their forty-fifth anniversary last evening by a ban- quet at Delmonico’s, About two hundred guests were present, and the festivities—with the excep- tion of one or two prosy speeches sandwiched in between half a dozen amusing, weighty or brilliant ones—were of a singularly genial and pleasant character. Mr. J. G. Daie presided, and at his right sat Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister. As soon asthe more material portion of the banquet had been exhaustively discussed, and solids and fluids had assumed the shape of coffee and cigars, Mr. Dale rose and returned thanks for his re-election as President. He described brieNy the good work done during the past year by the society, which was now in a highly satisfactory condition. Its in- come was greater than ever before, and so neces- sarily also, owing to the increasing field opened to its operations, had been its disbursements. There were now 132 permanent pensioners of the society, receiving a regular monthly allowance, besides a large number of casual dependents upon its bounty. Thirty-two beds had been arranged forin St. Luke’s Hospital in connection with thé society. Mr. Dale then touched upon THE ALABAMA CLAIMS, and said he wished he were able to congratulate them upon the absence of any disturbing differences between their home government and the country they were now residing in. But whether the Treaty of Washington were carried out or not, whether the good feeling on both sides that prompted the sign- ing of that instrument did or did not lead to a satis- factory settlement of all outstanding dim- culties, he thought they would all bear testi- mony that the national affection between the two countries had increased during the past year, was increasing now and would in- crease in the future. They might be well assured that when any great calamity, such as shat dreadful disaster at Chicago, should occur it would ever call forth, as it had done only afew months ago, not only expressions of sympathy from England, but substantial aid for the sufferers. And, while that was the case, it would not be possible for any tem- rary cloud to create a permanent estrangement tween Great Britain and America. The toasts of “The Day and All Who Honor It,” “The Queen—God Bless Her” and ‘The President of the United States” were then enthusiastically given. To the toast of “Her Majesty’s Minister,” Sir EDWARD THORNTON responded as follows :— Mr. President and Gentlemen—It affords me the liveliest satisfaction to be able for the first time to be present here in the midst of so many of my countrymen, and to thank you, as Ido, most sin- cerely’ and warmly for the hearty manner in which the Gace w to drink to the health of our good Queen was responded to, as well as for the kind mention you have now made of her representatives in this country. There is no so- ciety which could have more cordial sympathy from Her Majesty than this—established for the benefit ofour countrymen and countrywomen who ma; unhappily be in distress. And it has done its work well and bravely. It is pleasant to see that British subjects who have migrated to this country have not spilt the milk of human kindness by the way, or even watered it. (Applause.) True it Ts that in this grandly prosperous country the need of it is not so great as at home, and still more true that those of our race who have made it what it is show us the most glorious example of open-handed and generous charity, without limit and without restraint. (Applause.) CHICAGO. Terrible as was the recent sad disaster in one of the most flourishing cities of the Union, it was almost compensated by the generous and spontaneous and swiftly sudden outburst of good feeling and generous help which, by the power of steam, by the electric spark, and in the twinkling of an eye, as it’ were, was unfortunate sufferers from their fellow citizens in every part of the country, almost before they felt that their lives we ved from the fury of the flames, Such traits of bond of union between the two English-speaking nations, and I trust that while they encourage us to a generous rivalry, they may make still warmer that earnest friendship which I. hope will always exist between us. Sir Edward Thornton then stated that he had often before been desirous of pple J in the celebration of St, George’s day jn New York, but that his duties in cementing the BONDS OF THAT FRIENDSHIP which it was his ardent desire should be established between the two countries whose flags now waved So harmoniously around him had detained him in Washington, He then continued :—It has been my labor to insure this friendship—with what success T hope is not doubtful—and I have therefore been obliged to remain in Washington more constantly than would have been the case had I been guided wholly by my own inclinations. As one of the results of those labors f was much gratified in having the honor of being one of the signers of the Treaty of Washington. I had the firmest faith in the principle involved in arbi- tration; I have it still. WHAT THE JOINT HIGHS DID NOT THINK. No one, I believe, supposes that the British Com- missioners had any idea—the slightest idea—that Indirect damages ‘were included in that treaty. (Applause.) A subsequent and thorough examina- tion of the treaty and its wording has not now persuaded them to the contrary, but has rather confirmed them in their original and publicly pro- claimed belief. The government of THR UNITED STATES THINK OTHERWISE, and have 80 declared, anéthey have an undoubted right to their own opinion. J cannot, however, but hope that the —, attempt to apply the great se of arbitration may not fail on account of t misunderstanding. And THE SOLUTION seems to me to be palpable. For, while between sent to the | racter cannot fail to be a | two ions of about equal power it is easy, dign! , generous and magnanimous claim for ayment of which one of them thinks herself entitled, it is impossible for the to bound by a decision which renders her a debtor for a claim which she does not adinit she ever agreed to submit to arbitration. I can see such a solution, and I am convinced that such a solution would be applauded by all the na- tions of the world, and would do honor to the great republic of the United States. (Applause.) @ next toast of “The State and city of New York” was responded to by MR. CYRUS W. FIRLD, who also peiaiy alluded to the Alabama claims, After humorously alluding to his mupeee at being made the deputy of the Governor and the Mayor, he referred to the “etc,” op nded at the bottom of the bill of fare. He then said:—Now, I want to know, Mr. Chairman, whether those letters, e, t, c, mean indirect claims. If they do, I am sure every gentle- man present will send you to-morrow morning a ae bill for calling me ‘here to represent His Ex- cellency the Governor, and under no circumstances could I veto it. I shall not further occupy your time, as I know you are anxious to hear the speak- ers who follow me, But there is ONE SENTIMENT which I am sure no Governor of this State, no Mayor of this city could ever veto; and that is that the people of this State and city are in favor of a lasting peace between this country and England. And cursed be that man, either Englighman or American, for any reason, political or otherwise, that would throw discord between these two great English-speaking nations that are living on both sides of the Atlantic. (Uproarious applause.) ‘The following other toasts were also drunk en- thusiastically and fitly responded to:—“The Memory and Genius of Shakspeare ;” “Our Stster Charitable Societies; “The Armies and Navies of England and the United States,” and the ‘Ladies.’ The guests then separated, after the usual parting convivial airs. LETTER OF MR. OYRUS W. FIELD TO HON. JOHN A, PETERS, His View of the Claims for Indirget Damagew’ New York, April 23, 1872. To THE Eprror oF THE HERALD:— Deak Srr—Referring to the leading editorial in this morning’s HERALD, in regard to the Alabama claims, and in which my name is mentioned, I beg leave to enclose you a copy of a letter I have this afternoon mailed to Judge Peters, at Washington, and remain, very respectfully, your obedient ser- vant, CYRUS W. FIELD. New York, April 23, 1872, My Dear JupGE Prrers—I have carefully read the preamble and resolution which you gave me last week, and which you introduced into the House of Representatives on the 9th instant, in regard to the “Alabama claims and indirect damages.” Since my return from Europe, four weeks ago, ¢ have spent a great portion of my time in endeav ing to ascertain how the unfortunate misunder- standing between the governments of the United States and of Great Britain respecting these in- direct claims has arisen, and what was the true feeling of our Eos in regard to the same. I have visited New Haven, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and I have hardly found a person who does not regret that these claims have been put into our case, and who is not desirous that they should be at once withdrawn. Among those whom Ihave seen are Mr. Benja- min R. Curtis, late Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, and who was selected by the government as counsel to argue their case before the Geneva Tribunal; Hon. William Beach Lawrence, of New York, the able writer on international law; Rev. Dr. Woolsey, ex-President of Yale College, who has devoted so much time to the study of the law of nations; Gearge Ticknor Curtis, the well-known Jawyer, and Hon. Reverdy Johnson, late United States Minister to Great Britain, All utterly regret the idea of consequential Somages. I wish that eVery member of the Senate and House of Representatives would read carefully the documents relating to these claims, transmitted to Congress with the Presidents last annual message, and the United States and English cases as pre- sented at. Geneva, and the able comments on the same by President Woolsey, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Cur- tis and Mr. Johnson, which have been published, and then, I believe, they would come to the conclu- sion that the indirect claims should be abandoned. One item included in these claims is the expenses of the war from the battle of Gettysburg, which would amount to over one thousand millions of dol lars, Can any one believe that the English Com- missioners ever intended that such a demand should be considered by the arbitrators, particu- larly as one clause of the treaty fopaet that the amount of the award, if any, shall be paid in gold at the city of Washington within one year’ Would they have consented to pledge tneir government to the oasibie Payment, ofan amount that could not be liquidated within the time? Why, if such enor- mous claims were to peprenred did not the Amer- ican Commissioners insist upon their being inserted in the treaty, and thereby prevent the possibility of sas ¢ misunderstanding ? wish that the persons who prepared the Ameri- can case had exhibited a little more of the spirit which animated the President of the United States when he said, “ Let us have peace,” and of that of Sir Stafford Northcote, when, at a public dinner, in reply to the sentiment, “The Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes,” he said, “Iam quite certain that there is not a man in the United States or in the United Kingdom who does not cordially and from the bottom of his heart endorse that senti- ment;” and again, “National honor does not con- sist in not acknowledging wrong, in always insist- ing that what has been done has been done rightly; national honor does not consist in never admitting a mistake, because of the fear that it will be said that it is done from an un- willingness to face the consequences, True national honor, like true personal honor, I believe consists in this: in being ready to do justice in all things, to maintain your own rights and to recognize the Nights of your opponents, and just to go so far beyond mere justice as this, that when the point is doubtful you would rather give it against yourself than for your- self.” And that great friend of America, John Bright, showed the same spirit when, in replying to a toast, ‘The Peace and Prosperity of Great Britain and the United States,”’ he said, “which means that - we desire an unbroken friendship with the people of that country. With one heart and voloe we pacst that sentiment, and, without any fear of con- tradiction, we assert that we are on that point truly representative of the unanimous feelin; the three kingdoms. Men here forget that, after all, We are but one nation having two governments. We are of the same noble and heroic race. Half the English family is on this side the Atlantic, in its ancient home, and the other half over the ocean there being no room for them here), settled on the merican Continent. Noman will dare to say that the people of the United States or the people of the United Kingdom are not in favor of peace. And I assert this, that he is an enemy of our English race, and, indeed, an enemy of the human race, who creates any Gaull that shall interfere with the permanent peace and friendship of all the members of our great English-speaking family.’ With great. respect I remain, my dear Judge Peters, very truly your friend, CYRUS, W. FUELD, Hon. JOHN A. PErERs, House of Representatives, Washington. CANADA, The Dominion Parliament Still Agitat- ing the Washington Treaty and the Question of the Fisheries. Orrawa, Ont., April 23, 1872, In the House last night Sir John A. Macdonald | said that the measure relating to the Treaty of Washington would be submitted immediately after the budget speech, which would take place on Tuesday week. That relating to the Pacific Railway would be preuae down in a very few days. Mr. ToDIN asked as to the intention of the govern- ment toward the issue of regulations for the pro- tection of fish in the inland lakes and rivers, and the granting of licenses for fishing in them under the resolutions preventing the destruction of fish, and whether the Canadians should be permitted to fish to the exclusion of foreigners. Hon. Dr. Tupper said it was not intended to grant concurrent privileges to foreigners; Canadians only would have the fishing rights, Erie Carrying on a Contest Across the LakesHow to Obtain Possession of a Road. * BUFFALO, N, Y., April 23, 1872. The Canadian shore opposite this city has been the scene of lively excitement the past few days, in consequence of an attempt by William A. Thomp- son, on behalf of the owners of the Erie and Niagara Railway, to obtain frepossession of the road which had been feaaod to tke tireat Western. Kal- way Company of Canada for five years. The lease having expired the Great Western attempted to hold possession of the road as security for bonds held against the Erie and Niagara. Itis reported that, last night, Thompson’s party tore up a portion of the track leading out from Fort Erie, also destroyed a culvert and burned the bridge at Frenchman’s Creek, besides beatae J the Great Western's agent out of the freight house. This afternoon about fifty roughs crossed from this city to Fort Erie, who sala they were employed at high wages to keep possession of the road. A Railroad Controversy Settled. PORTLAND, Me., April 23, 1871. ‘The case of the Kennebec and Portland Railroad Company against the Portland and Kennebec Rail. road Company, to set aside the foreclosure of the mortgage by virtue of which the latter company was formed and held possession of the railroad, was decided by the Supreme Court at Washington in favor of the defendants, confirming the title of the new company to the property, which is now leased to the Maine Central road Company, Mig the latter company a clear title under theit ease. DEATH OF E. P, SEWARD. MppLeTowy, N. Y., April 23, 1872, E. P. Seward, brother of Secretary Seward, died to-day, of apoplexy, at his home, Florida, N. Y, THE CANADIAN-AMERIOAN RAILROAD WAR, | THE STATE CAPITAL Rapid Transit of Railroad Bills in the Assembly. A BUSY AND EVENTFUL DAY. ees The Fourth Avenue Tunnel-Sink- the-Track Bill Passed. — GILBERT'S AIR LINE ARRANGEMENT SAFE. Beach's Pneumatic Bore Bill Passed and Sent | to Bother the Senate. COLONEL HAWKINS RESIGNS IN DISGUST. Passage of the General, State and City Registry Acts. The Double Court of Ses sions Bill Passed. ate Nomination of Honry R. Pierson as a Regent of the University—Tribulations of the Seventy Over Their Charter. Aupany, N. Y., April 23, 1872. The wire pullers are still in a quandary about the fate of the New York charter, and as they have not 92 yet been able to draw the Governor out on the subject one s° y or the other, the general situation remains as deploring a» ever, Mr. John Wheeler, the indefatigable henchman of the Seventy Solons, came up this morning, bright and early, mudac he brought a carpet bag along with him cram full of suspiciously legal-looking documents, it is surmised that he has succeeded in getting & baker's dozen or more of “opintons” in favor of the constitutionality of the charter. He does not look as confident now, however, as he did a few days ago, but he declares that while there’s | there’s hope. The other members of the special delegation have not shown up, and it is gencraily believed that they are not willing to work any longer for the success of the charter; in other words, that they have done their duty, as far as in them lay, in helping Wheeler to get the bill through both houses in a form that was acceptable to the Committee of Seventy, and that they will not budge an inch to “move” the Governor in its favor. It is said that when the “hearing” on the bill takes place next Thursday before the Governor the committee will not be represented, as they believe the Governor knows as much now as he can ever know about their wishes— what they want and what they do not want. This conclusion, if it should be falithfully adhered to, may bring the committee to grief in the long run. Qui vivra verra. VERY RAPID TRANSIT, Among the most remarkable exhibitions of rapid transit in legislation ever witnessed were those which occurred to-day in the Assembly, when three railroad schemes for the city of New York were placed upon their final passage and were put through under the pressure of the previous ques- ton, VANDERBILIS PLAN TO SINK THE TRACK ofthe Harlem and Hudson River Railroad above | the Grand Central depot having been ordered to a third reading last week, when the bill was reached to-day Mr. Whitbeck moved that it be referred back to the Committee on Railroads, with instruc- tions to incorporate amendments which he then proposed and report immediately, the bill mean- while retaining its place upon the order of business. The amendments are the result of the compromise effected with Vanderbilt yesterday, as published in this day’s Heraxp, and provide for a tunnel or covered way instead of an open cut, after leaving the company’s grounds at Forty-eighth street. The sinking of the track will commence at Forty-eighth street, instead of at the Grand Central depot, as at first proposed, the depression to continue gradually until the road bed will run under a covered way, | which will begin at Fifty-sixth street. In a word, | they provide for the tunnel system substan- tially instead of the open cut, the compromise con- sisting principally of an agreement that the cone groan shall not be interferred with, | Mr. Whitbec! members, though they did not express it, for Haw! 2 made himself obnoxious to’ them by, his wholesale denunciations of so man measures as jobs and swindles and by na sweeping insinuations of members being speéctal! ry interested in their passage. Mr. Fields also in- formed Mr. Hawkins that the statute required Te+ signations to be filed with the Secretary of State, The regular business of the House was then re- sumed while Hawkins drew up his resignation, sent it to the Speaker to be forwarded to the Secretary of State, and then left the chamber. He will prob- ably communicate to his constituents and the public generally, over his own signature, his reason for, resigning his seat in the Assembly. He has come ta the conclusion that this so-called reform Legisiatu: is now owned by Vanderbilt, and that it can bought by Arnone who has the means to buy, And he is also of the opinion that it is MORE CORRUPT THAN THE LEGISLATURES OF RECENT! YEARS, which were controlled by Tweed and Tammany. There are few, if any, who question Hawkins’ in- tegrity; but {t is generally conceded that he has been not only unsuccessful, but indiscreet, as @ re~ former, the chief objection to his course in the Assembly being that he has ~ fre- quently cast the imputation of — im proper motives upon the whole Legislature y while members in privately commenting on his insinuations claim that if he had good grounds for; | his opinions he should have been more definite anc direct in his statements, Perhaps he will be more explicit when he returns to the metropolis and re+ lates his experince here to his constituents. Mr. Judd was elected chairman of the Committee on Cities in place of Mr. Hawkina, THE GILBERT ELEVATED RAILROAD SCHEMB, amended so as to provide for the appointment of commissioners to select the route, came up on ital final yerraee in the Assembly, and, the Bier question being ordered, passed by a vote of 92 to 18., THE BEACH PNEUMATIC UNDERGROUND PROJECT was the remaining one of the two that was rushed! through under the pressure of the previous ques- tion, ‘This bill had already passed the Senate, some: time ago, the Senators having given it the prefer- ence over the Central Underground, It passed thei Assembly to-day by a vote of 66 to 44, } ‘The Committee on Railroads of the Assembly & meeting this afternoon and heard the object of the Central Underground Raflroad interest to THE VANDERBILT RAPID TRANSIT SCHEMB from Central Park to the City Hall. It is clat that Vanderbilt's bill will encroach upon the vest rights of the Central Underground Company, The new Registry laws for New York city, Brook- lyn and the other cities and incorporated villages the State were read a third time in the Assemb! and passed, The ) NEW YORK CITY REGISTRY BILL ‘ | before its final passage was, by unanimous congent | amended so as to include the Surrogate, Recor and City Judge among the officers to be elected at the fallelection. It was immediately sent to th Senate, which also passed it as amended, THE BROOKLYN REGISTRY BILL went through without further amendment, but Mr. Jacobs took occasion to explain his objection: to it. The State Registry bill was amend so as to make it apply only to cities a villages having more than ten thousand imhabitanta, In the Senate this evening the Assembly bill in re- lation to a double session of THE COURT OF GENEGKAL SESSIONS ea the salary of the Recorder and City Judge, wh are its presiding Judges, was amended, 80 ag make the double session optional with the Judge instead of obligatory, as the original bill provided., ‘The billas amended fixes the annual salary of the; Recorder and City Judge at $15,000 each. NATION OF REGENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY. ublicans of 2 Senate and Assembly met 5 nbly Chamber in joint caucus at nin P.M. to nominate a Regent for the University, f placo of the late Erastus Corning. “The caucus waa called to order by Mr, Bemus, who nominated - tor D. P, Wood for chairman; carried. ©) motion of Mr. Husrep, Senator Dickinson an Assemblyman Hart were appointed seer taries. On motion the caucus proceeded to ballot for a candidate for Regent, Senator Madden and Assemblyman Moore acting as tellers. Senator Chatfield nominated Hon. Henry R. Pierson 4s a candidate, No other candidate was named, ‘The caucus then proceeded to ballot, when it was found that Henry R. Pierson recetved' 95; A. P. U; son, 9; P. L, Snyder, 1; T. Glosskuskee, 1; Rush Hawking, 1, The Chair announced the nomination of Hon. Henry R. Pierson, aud on motion the caucus adq journed, ‘ PAYMENT OF THE TAMMANY PROSECUTORS. } The bill to provide for the payment of the legal expenses in the prosecution of the Tammany, thieves was returned to the Assembly this evening? and amended so as to provide that all expenses in+ curred or to be incurred by the Attorney Generi | and Charles O’Conor, or under their direction, | Shall be paid by the Comptroller of the city of Net York on the production of the accounts duly certl. fled by the Attorney General and Charles O'’Conor., To meet these payments the Board of Supervisoral are authorized to raise by tax $50,000, The bill waa then passed. BILLS PASSED AT THE EVENING SESSION. In the House this afternoon the following bill were passed :—To incorporate the New York an | Queens County Bridge Company for the purpose ot | constructing a bridge over the East River; to estab- | lish a rapid transit steam ferry between Westches- ter county and New York city; to amend the char-; | ter of the American Bible Society; providing for the | transfer of policies of the Standard Life Insurances Company. | THE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND THE CHARTER. ae The Entire List of Public School Teach= ers in New York City Wiped Out by the New Charter—Agitation Among the Mentors. ° Section 30, articie 4 of the new charter, after pro- viding for the appointment and removal of the heads of various bureaus under the city government’ as it is to De composes by virtue of the new charter, say: ‘The terms of office of all persons employed in the and ral existing departments, except those of the officers an men of the Police and Fire Departments, and except tho: by this act expressly retained, shall, untoss it Is otherwiset by this act provided, expire on the ist day of July, Considerable apprehension exists among tha 2,000 public school teachers of the city, male and\ stated that the plan now proposed | female, as to the effect which this section may hav was acceptable to the railroad company, and also | upon them. A variety of opinions exist. Some 80 #0 far as he could ascertain to the people of New | York. Mr. Husted here interposed and added that. the proposition offered by Mr. Whitbeck had been carefully considered, and had been approved by all the parties concerned, and in order to dispose of the subject at once he moved the previous question, As soon as the Clerk had finished reading the amendments, Mr. Whitbeck, without leaving his seat, announced immediately that the Railroad Committee reported in favor of the amendments ac- cording to instructions. The bill, as thus amended, was then read a third time and passed by a vote of | 92 to 20, 88 follows:— Ayns—Abbott, Aitken, Alberger, Alvord, D. L. Babcock, IH, Babcock, 'Badeau, Baltz, Beckwith, Bemus, E. 't: Brown, I. D. Brown,’ Buckley, Buell, Burns, Burritt, Campbell, Chamberlain, Chainbérs, Cook, Couchman, Crandall,’ Dunphy, Dikeman, Eastman, Fields, Foley, Ford, Fowler, Geib, Goring, Goss, Green, Greenhaly Griftin, Haight, A.’ L. Hayes, Honly, Herrick, Holdridge, Hollister, Houghton, Hungerford, Tu Hyatt, Jacobs, Kingsland, Khapp, Lincoln, ¢ Lord,’ G. P. Lord, Lott, Loughran,’ Lynde, Mackay Marey, Moore, Morton, Moseley, Mosher, Murdock, Oakley, Pell,’ Pierce,’ Prince,’ Ray, Roche,Sage, She ardson, Simson, Smiley, Smith, Smyth, Sniper, Shyder, pringsted, Squires, Strahan, Swain, M. in 3 ns, Tucker, A.'L. Van Dusen, J. Van Dusen, Tis, West, Whitbeck, Whittaker, Wiley, Woolse ‘ Navs—Bennett, Berri, Blair, E.'B. Brown, Fort. Gre gory, Haughton, Hawking, D. B, Hill, Kennedy, Killan, Lewis, Lippitt, Moulton, Osgood, Paige, Preston; Rice, the Speaker, Twombly—20. In order to clinch the matter, and to prevent a reconsideration afterwards, Mr. Husted moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill had just been pagsed, stating at the same time that he trusted the motion would be voted down, and on that he also = the potent pressure of the previous ques- tion, r. D. B. Hill managed to delay the final consummation a short time by demanding the yeas | and nays upon the call for the previous question, and this being disposed of and the previous ques- tion ordered, the motion to reconsider was lost, as was intended it should be, by @ vote of 81 to 27. And so the bill was sent to the Senate for concur- rence. The city is to pay one-half the expense of the im- provement, the lowest estimated cost of which is placed at five millions of dollars. HAWKINS BECOMES DISGUSTED AND RESIGNS, While this bill was being put through at such rail- road speed Colonel Hawkins sat in his seat dis- | public Schools, gusted and dumbfounded. road schemes were under discussion in the Com- | mittee of the Whole he had denounced them as | outrageous swindies, and had called upon his re- | publican associates not to bring upon themselves _ the infamy that would attach to them if they voted | for the passage of measures so wrong and so «corrupt, af he asserted these railroad | jobs to be. But they heeded not his | solemn warnings, and, in fact, looked lightly on, if | they did not ridicule, his appeals in favor of reform and the rights and interests of the people who were to be taxed for the benefit of wealthy railroad cor- porations. Finding that his protests were useless, | and his efforts in favor of reform altogether fruit: | less, Hawkins came to the conclusion that he might as well let the so-called reform members of this | Legislature alone, since they were so irrevocably joined to their idols, He could hardly restrain the | expression of HIS RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION while this Vanderbilt scheme was being con- ducted with more than railroad speed through the essential formalities to its passage. When this had | been ee he could stand the storm on his moral sensibilities no longer, but arose, and, with | the air of aman who had been injured and out- raged without any hope of. obtaining re- dress, at least from his associates, he said:—“Mr. Speaker, I desire unconditionally to tender my resignation as a member of this As- sembly.” “Although the announcement took the House by surprise, a general titter went through the chamber at this act of the indignant reformer. Hawkins evidently felt that it would be a stain upon his character ff he should continue to sit any i ras a member of so reckless and corrupt a ature. The Speaker informed him that this incement was not then in order, for the resig- nation should be sent to the Secretary of State. from wanted to have it ace ted hoe he ir wanted lave it accepted at once, and such wae the secret sentiment o many other 1 | thirty | them think that though the text of the clause doe: virtually remove them from office, the presence o@ such a provision in the charter was unintentional,s | one of those lapses of the law which all untraine | law-making assemblies are liable to, and therefore | not likely to be enforced. Others venture to main-: tain that it does not affect them at all, because of | the general State law on the subject, Some of the, ludy teachers venture to advance the opiniom | that they are not included, because they cannot be ranked as public officers, the higher law - opinion of the community, if not of the writterm | statutes, being opposed to lady omtice-holders; butt they were depressed and agitated when shown that® d, the clause docs not say public oMcers, but ‘“per- | sons employed.” The opinion was general, how- » | ever, that if the charter does actually compe | them to vacate, equity and common sense will rul@ | to retain them, | _ “Besides,” said one teacher, “they cannot find) ) people ¢ ble of teaching in the New. York public. schools ev day. Idoubt if they can ever fully | replace the people they propose to dismiss except | by eg them. ‘The childven of New York! | are a shrewd, obse ‘t set of youngsters, and the are not to be imposed upon by ignoramuses. man must ogg ed 1 up beyond ‘the rudiments teach them. He’s got to serve an apprenticesh! | from his matriculation into the infant school ta his graduation at college to know the business of | teaching these boys ! | . Anumber who feel secure in their places think that? it will present an excellent opportunity for getting: rid of incompetent teachers; but all of them are | more or less seriously agitated upon the subject. Itis probable that the dry logic of a statute had never before received such close study at the hand of these teachers of the young as this section 30, article 4 of the new charter. Geography, arithme-, tlc, astronomy, rhetoric, botany, are alhas naught | compared to the thrilling interest conveyed in that one section, and few of those studies have been so | ear scanned. | Mr. Henry Kiddle, the City Superintendent of says that he can interpret the sec When it and other rail- | tion into no other meaning than that the school teachers’ pany are to be vacated. The new clau: is evidently an amendment by the Senate, its tex not Sppesring at all in the charter as origin: passed by the Assembly, The term, “persons em- ployed in the existing departments,” certainly in+ cludes the school teachers as persons employed the Department of Public Instruction, and this in. terpretation {s clinched by the clause special) excepting “the officers and men of those byt lice and Fire Departments and this act exp nerf retained.” There is no othe section or article of the charter that can be inter. preted into expressly roetaiae the school teacher Yhat the effect will be of displacing the teachers is something that Mr. Kiddle is doubtful about. He hopes they may all be reappointed, {01 he does not think their places couid be so well filled by any new appointees; but as there ai Jommissioners of Public Instruction to elected, instead of twelve, as the tment now composed, he thinks it quite likely that ne‘ appointments may be insisted upon. School Commissioners newly come into office the natural desire, as weil as other mortals in similar fix, to Loe some friend a thing, as there are to be eighteen new lommisatonel even If the old ‘Board is re-elected—there ig & certainty that changes will be made, of men may be made system of cumulative voting is a matter upon wi Cumulative voting is but the dodgers, epeatons nv “false of the old régime are doubtless already disci Ways and means of defeating its intention and election day will doubtless have succeeded in fit omfituy these means the election falls into the sagas eroegety, Politicians, and crop-| Nosed School Commissioners are chosen, the sty’ of school teacher they would be likely to sasist int Oftice may easily ve lnagined, we See { 1 cn es t §