Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-11-02
rhE CLAIMS on SPAIN.

iournment Of the Commissioners aPpoin-
led under the Florida treaty we should
have been able to lay before the pubic
eoncise abstract of their proceedings au-
x;uy their late session. But, little OF q
canciusivensture having been determined
OH. aud great indulgence to the claimants
who wished a suspension of cases lnvoiv-
i,,p the least DOUBT, until all argument
Was heard-it was In. lossible tor US 70
obtain OF furnish much satisfactory in-
formation. In fact, the principle part OF
tn. time of the Commissioners was en-
ployed in examining the memorials hlea
with the secretary OF the Board previous
to or on the 10th ultimo. which amounted
to about three hundred in number. VI
these memorials, many, We understand
were SO defective in the statement OF the
particulaI. OF the claim, or In complying
with the orders of the Board, as to re-
cure amendment; and OF those suspen-
del for argument, some involved very
important and doubtful principles, while
Others were suspended nerely at the re-
Quest OF the claimants or their agents
Alany claims, as stated by the memo
rialists themselves, were SO obviously
out Of the pale OF the treaty, that they
were re ,ec led OH the claimants own shew-
inc. We mention two or three OF these
10 shew the kind OF cases which have as
sisted to constitute the enormous amount
claimed by our citizens from the Spanish
ernmeut-heretoiore stated, we be-
Sieye, at between thirty and forty mil
lion of dollars. For instance. woman
presented claim for damages sustained
by her in consequence OF the detention CT
her husband by Spanish authority; aro-
Their for injury doDe to vessel Accidentally
run afouI vi by a Spanish vessel; another
for a capture by French privateer,
which despatched the captured vessel to
Cuba, but before its arrival there, re.
capture by British vessel occurring,
heavy decree OF salvage b.y BRITISH
court of admiralty followed, &c.
Ofthe important points suspended for
argument, the following, among others
NAV 90 enumerated:
!. Cases OF American vessels captured
by prlva.eers, clearing French coalmls.
.iuns and colors, but owned and manned
in whole or in part, by Spanlards,) car
ried into Spanish colony, under the
siLht, or With the knowledge o. Spanish
aUthorities-the American crew there
dismissed, the cargo p.andered, distriou-
tion of the prize made among the captors
--no proceeding ending IN d cUndeuina'
ton instituted before any cortland al
spplication made ty the American owners
10 the Spanish authorities Tor redress
evaded or refused.
Z. Cases OF contracts made by Ameri'
can citizens with the Spanisa government
and not complied with by the iatter-lt
other words, whether any bat cases u
tor $ are embraced by the treaty.
s. Claims ivr contingent losses-the
loss OF contin -ent Interests, or the loss VI
probable profits.
4. Cases OF seizure of vessels by the
French government, IL the ports o
Spain.
Arguments IN WRITING are required
TO be made by the board on all the CUES
TONS that are thus suspended, at their nex'
session. A liberal construction Will lie
doubt be given to the treaty, but 1t Is the
duty of the Board, at the same time, tI
Guard the interest of those claiman,
w,usr rights are indisputabie; Tor the ad
mission Of a false claim will nee essarialiy
diminish the amount received by rightiu
claims should the sum quoted by the trea
~ fail short.
We would by no means suggest to cial
mauts any step that would incur unneees
sary expence; but, where they cannot at
tend, personally, the meetings OF the
Board, it appears to Us to be their IN eres
to have counsel to represent them.
We understand tue number OF me-
Inerias filed with the secretary OF the
Board to this date, exceeds five hundred
The board it will be remembered, la.
adjourned to the first Monday In Janu
airy. iAdt, Inc.