MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS. 201 



the United States and Great Britain have done by the 

 Treaty of Washington. 



So many examples of arbitration between Govern 

 ments, within a recent period, contribute to prove that 

 M. Pradier Fodere errs in assuming that in our day 

 &quot; offers of arbitration made and accepted are becoming 

 more and more rare.&quot; On the contrary, this method 

 of terminating national differences may now be re 

 garded as permanently fixed in the international juris 

 prudence of Europe and America. 



WISDOM OF THE PRESENT MIXED COMMISSION. 



I conclude, therefore, that the United States act 

 ed wisely in submitting the claims of British sub 

 jects to a mixed commission by the Treaty of 

 Washington. 



Some persons in the United States, with disposi 

 tion to criticise the Treaty of Washington, have sug 

 gested that this Commission may result in finding a 

 large balance of many millions due from the United 

 States to Great Britain. 



I think the supposition is altogether gratuitous, 

 and that no such considerable balance will be found 

 to be due. If it should be so, however, the fact will 

 in no sort detract from the credit belonging to the 

 Treaty. If the Government of the United States, in 

 the course of its efforts to suppress insurrection, shall 

 have done injury to the subjects of Great Britain for 

 which we are justly responsible by the law of nations, 

 it is altogether proper that we should pay whatever 

 indemnity therefor may be found due by the jndg- 



