Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-07
No. HI.

Towards the close of the year 1905 French sou,,I
ron sailed from Rocheiort, under The command of Ad
mural L'Allemand, TO Cruize in The w est Indies.
Ourins ms crulle, upwards of twenty neutral yes
sells destroyed by Admiral IAllemand of which
I four were American. Representations of this trans
ACTON were immediately made to the French Govern
Inent by the accredited agents Paris of the differ
ent Nations tn whose citizens and subjects these
beloDged and commission was appointed nv tho I'm,
peTor to ascestan The extent Ct the injury sistained
This commission awarded full restitution of the value
of the property destroyed; but to this day no indemnity
has ever been made TO the American claimants What
adds TO this Injustice is, that after the restoration of fo
BouToons, iull compensation made to all the En-
ToPeon powers, whose property was destroyed by this
squadron. On the 21st November 1905 a Decree was
issued at Berlin by Napoleon, declaring the British Is
lands IN state Of blockade. This decree however
d'd n?' authorize the conscation Of vessels in conse
qncncc OF their having been in England, but merely
prohibited their admission tue ports of France
The only ground of couiscation authorised by the
Berlin Decree, OF vessels bound France was false
declaration.
Some months after this Decree was issued. sovcn
American vessels, richly laden, arrived al Antwerp
four from Philadelphia, and three from New York
These vessels had all been captured on their outward
passage by British Cruizers, and sent into England
but were Immediately liberated, and proceeded TO Ant
werp' their original port Of destination.
The consignecs claimed exemption for these yes
selS from Tie operation Of the Berlin Decree on the
gland.
Tue French Government consented 10 allow these
c1rgOes 10 be landed and deposited in the public stores
and permitted The vessels 10 return 10 the United States
When the consignecs pressed upon the French An
tboriIes for restitution Of this property, tcv offered
TO restore ~ provided they tie Cousignccs would rive
bonds for e value thereof 10 abide the Gnal decision
of the Emperor. This they declined doing. 1t is i'm
Porant here TO observe a several American vessels
and cargOcs, seized in other ports O France under
circumstances paecisely similar liberated by pi
wing bonds; and that these bonds we're afterwards can
cellcd by special Imperial DEGREES.
Under various TIctexts, however these carroes
we're detained IN the pnbiic Stores at Antwerp e1r
nea'ly three years, when they disposed OF al pub
nc auciio0, and the proceeds paid into the caissc
0V"TtsScHef, Were IT was customary for the French
Government to deposit funds, waiting judicial decision
rom Tbs place OF deposit this money afterwards
transferred to the public treasury without any legal ad
Judication, and employed to defay the public
OF The Government MIR. Gallatln whose mastery pen
touches no subject without shedding upon it food Of
gbi has with his usual ability, fully proved that
rance has not TIE shadow Of claim 20 this properiv
eve" &C cordng 20 her own laws, independent Of treaty
'Pua'icLs OF Tie ACKNOWLEDGED prHe pies cr rsf;cc