Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-17
FTVW VIC bVsIOH St~dtsSNlHH.
FRENCH ~SPOLTATIONS.

~
Thirty years have now elapsed since the government
of the United States received an equivalent for, and as
sumed the payment Of, the claims Of their citizens for
spoliations committed on their commerce by French
cruisers prior 10 lS00.-Since which time our govern
ment have withheld compensation. When il is remem-
bered that these depredations were committed shortly
afteri the Tel mination OF the Revolutionary War aud is the
property OF those wholly their personal services togcth-
err, with the pecunary assistance rendered the country
in that ~contest,as well "a by the faith of the Treaty con-
cluGed with France in 1900, one is at a loss 10 account
for the delay. IL will he seen by the subjoined report
submitted 10 the Senate at the last session of Congress,
that petitions and Inconsistencies have been repeatedly
presented to the government on the part Of the claim
ants. Better treatment was certainly expected by the
sufferers from the very government which they had
made such sacrifices 10 establish, and they now conf
IDENTIFY look 10 the present efficient administration for
that justice which has been so long withheld from
them.
The Select Committee 10 whom were referred The pc
u,ions OF sundry persons. praying indemnify for loss
es sustained by captures and other injuries TO thei,
commerce., prior 10 the year 1900,
REPORT.
That they have devoted TO the subject referred 10
them, the most mature and deliberate consideration. The
several reports heretofore made in the two Houses OF
Congress, have presented the most prominent facts con-
nected with the history Of these claims, and the com.
mittee, without going into a detail of the facts. ask
leave to refer the Senate TO the said reports, to witt
. ( the Senate on the 3D. Of March, 1918;
sb February 1927;
oath May 1928,
or the House on the 22d April 1902;
18th February 1907;
3lst January 1922;
2ith March 1921;
The Committe have adopted the opinion that the A.
mericsn Government having relinquisbed all claims up
on the French Government for the large amount Of in.
IDENTITIES justly due TO American citizens, for iniu.
fies committed on their commerce., in violation Of ma
tional law and existing treaties betwe en- he Two ma
tons; and having made that rclinquishment conducive
to the attainment Of advantages highly important, both
IN their political and pccuniary results ought TO make
Just compensation 10 those whose clSims were thus re.
linquished.
The principles on which the estimate cf cOmpensa.
ton should be formed, do not lead to q definite or pre-.
else sum, and the committee have felt much embar.
raised by the difficulty Of arriving at a conclusion en-
tirely satisfactory in relation TO the amount.
The exact extent Of loss il not ascertsined. though
known TO be large; the value Of the pi obsble chances Of
recovery from The French Government by that reIin.
punishment, cannot be resolved into any specific sum
sud in fixing the amount TO which the committee have
agreed, they have acted upon the principle ofa fair and
Just compromise.
Amongst the members Of the Committed who concur
in The principle upon which compensation ought TO he
made, there exists q difference Of opinion as TO the pro.
per amount. A majority, however, have agreed upon
the sum mentioned in the bill, which the ommittee beg
leave herewith TO report.
The bill sppropriales two millions Of dollars; TO he
pro rata under the direction # the Presi-
dent; aud commissioner Is 10 decide upon the validity
and amount Of the respective claims.
PORTUGUESE OUTRAGE.
News Of Use capture aud detention Of The whale ship