Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-03-30
CONGRESS.
HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES,.
Al ALL o.

Commerce, reported bill "concern.
,ou wrecks on the coast OF FLORIDA;
h;ch WAS twice read and committed.
FRENCH SPOLIATlONS.
Mr.. Forsyth from the committee on
foreign relations, made the following
report: ~
"Op the petitions of Esdrianus Var
Neorden, William and Nathaniel
Hooper, Daniel Henshaw, several
Merchants and Underwriters oil ea-
lem several merchants of Gloucester,
several Merchants and CDderwrl.
tsrs of Alexaudris, District OF Column
bia several Merchants of Washing
ing,on, North Carol.na, Henry CLARK
and others, of Kennebunk, and severe
oil others, merchants, in Maine re-
ferred 10 the committee OF Foreign
relations, they report,
That no evidence ACCOMPANIES either
of the petitions: all OF mich, except
the first, are literally the same, having
been apparently prepared by concert a
Inong the claimsnts. to be presented 20
Congress. 70 discriminate between
them is not practicable, if 1t were desi.
,able. The committee are compelled
IA present. 10 general terms, the nature
of these claims, az set forth oy the par.
ties intereased,a aud 10 examine, as oriet'
" as possible, the grounds upon which
reEef is asked irem the Government
of,hs ITnited States. The claims are
founded upon spoliations committed
by the private and public armed yes
sels of France, between the years l'91
End lSuO.
The petitioners allege that the French
rc,ernment, to the da'e or the ratinca-
;.oa Of the Treaty of 1900, always con-
adhered the recognition OF their claims
as due to its honor. and attached them
as d charge upon its natioaal character
That the governor. of the U. States
which has volunteered its agency for the
recovery ofthem from France, exercls-
ed It's power and authority TO prevent
the petitioners from obtaising iDdem-
ni,v that the Government ofthe United
States received from France full and
fair co uivalent for the claims, IN the
discharge from lis liabilities under the
Treaties with France, and the abroga-
ton of these treaties.
Similar applications, If not by the
same persons, have been frequently
made to Congress, and reports upon
them are to be found in the records of
the House Of Representatives, and OF
the Senate. None of these applications
have been successful Without at
tempting even to enumerate the fal-
lures to obtain a sanction to their stateA
ments and to their claims, the commit
tee refer the House to detailed re.
port Of the various acts of the govern
msn. IF zee Unitssd : ssas su Fs sssPpsst
committee, on the ED of April. 1909. to
which applications like the present
were referred. Governed by that re.
port, the con- mittes on foreign relations
are not satisfied that the French Co.
vernment ever admitted the justice Of
the claims of the petitioners, or ever IN
tended to pay them; that the govern
ment of the United States used every
effort, even to war itself. to rescue the
property of y uerlcan merchants from
the lawless violence of France; that its
efforts to procure payment Tor the spo.
liations committed by the French cruz
sers, were not discontinued until 1t was
obvious that there was no nope Of sue.
cess. That this government neUer re.
ceived from France any equivalent for
the claims of Americans upon France.
The war of aggression was commenced
BY France, AMI every act Of the United
States was a ust retaliation for pre-
vious injury The treaties with France
were annulled by an act OF Congress in
l79S, in consequence of the utter dis
regard Of the stipulations Of them by
that power.
In short, to justify their claims upon
the United States, the petitioners as
same, that France was right, and their
own government wrong That France
was prepared TO make just repara-
tion for the ousrages committed under
her own laws, until released from her
obligations by the United States, who
were faithless to their trust, in the first
instance, and have been regardless Of
the obligations OF justice ever since, as
sump,ions not consistent with truth, nor
cteditsble to the patriotism of those
who made them. The committee re-
commend to the House to adop. the fol.
lowing resolution:
Resol0sd, That petitions of the seve-
raj persons who ask indemnity for spo-
]iarions committed by French cruisers
on sheir property, between the years
l79S and 1900, be rejected
ILL., ..ao.t mo o.1a.al IN La nm she