The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-05

Washington, Goth .nuy, 1926.
The Secretary of State, in compliance
with resolution of the Senate, of the 5th
March, 1924, which was referred to this
Department, requesting the President " to
cause 10 be laid before the Senate copies
of the several instrnt tons to the Ministers
of the United States, To the Government of
France, and Of the correspondence between
the said Ministers and Government. having
reference to the Spoliations committed by
that Power, on the commerce of the Uni
ted States, anterior to the SOth September,
1900, or so much thereof as can be com
municated without prejudice to the public
interests also how far if at all the claim
Of indemnity from the Government OF
France, for the Spoliatons aforesaid, was
affected by the Convention entered into be
tween the United States and France, on
the said 30th September, 1900" has tn,
honor to report TO the President, copies of
50 much ofthe Instructions and correspon-
dence in question as is supposed to be en-
hraced in the call of the Senate to which
are added, copies ofother papers and doc
uments, to great extent, " hch are be-
heyed to be within the intention, if not
comprehended in the terms of the Reso-
luton of the Senate. By reference to
former messages TO Congress, and to the
Public Documents, the publication of
which had been authorized. from time to
time, by government; it will be perceived
that many OF the papers now reported,
have been already communicated TO Con-
grcss, or spread before the public, through
the medium of the press but it has been
thought nevertheless expedent to submit
them Ill their present collected form, that
full and connected view might ne presen.
ted at the same time. There may be eVe en-
yet remaining in the archives of the de-
partment, others, having bearing on the
| subject, which has escaped our diligence
| and researches.
Ny predecessor was unable to command
from the other important duties which be
bad 10 perform, sufficient time to have this
collection completed, during his continu-
ance IN office. after the passage ofthe Reso-
! luton Of the Senate. The same cause
not less sensihy felt by his successor, has
delayed this report until the present period
and tie feels himself required to state
that without material injury to the public
| SE''ih'i ~ 'hoi llIibStilt uIdHIt W tAdiiliS
the many volumes containing the very ex-
tenslve correspondence, from which the
copies and extracts now submitted have
been taken, or even, attentiyely to perust
the whole of those copies and extracts
which have been just finished. The de
sire tn present them to the senate, IN con
tormty to the anxious wish Of the claim
ants. before the close of IFS present session
renders these explanations necessary, ant
it is hoped that they may prove satisfacto
ry.
The closing paragraph of the resolution
of the Senate, enjoins another duty, which
from the ambiguous manner in which il i
expressed, the Secretary feels some diff
Guilty IN clearly compreheoding. The Sc
nate resolved "that the President of tn
United States be requested to cause to b
laid before the Senate copies" sc. ant
conclude by requesting TO cause also to b.
laid before the Senate chow far, if at all
the claim of indemnity from the Govern
mfnt OF France for the Spolia,ions afore
said, was affected by the convention enter
ed into between the United States an,
France on the said sOth OF September
1900"