Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-22
DOMESTIC.


French spoiiGtions on our Con,merce-In our
paper vt TO day, will be found q memorial of a
Committee acting in behalf Of the citizens of New
York, who have suffered by the injuries commit
ted by France on our commerce. The claims up
on that government are OF long standing, their JUS
ttce is most manifest, yet their settlement under
one pretext or another, by policy convennien,
enough perhaps for France, but in the highest de.
gree unjust and cruel TO such of our citizens as
are concerned in the matter, has been procrastina.
ted from year to year, until many of the claimants
have gone TO their graves in poverty. The me.
morialists have stated their case i'm strops lam
guage, and with all the feeling which is naturally
called forth by that delay to make PREPARATION which
is almost equivalent to its denial. We hope that
measures will be taken TO bring about speedy adj
juStment of the difficulty between the two conn
tries.-Our hopes are strengthened by the appoint
inent OF new Minister to the French court Mr..
Itives IL one OF the ablest Of our country and
from bis talents and firmness, we NAV expeci
much. The appointment OF a Especial Minister
Tor the sole purpose OF effectng a settlement of
these claims as asked in the memorial, however
indispensable II might have been deemed before
Mr.. Brown asked leave 10 return, will not now we
imagine be deemed necessary. [N Y. Z. Post
TO ANDREW JACKSON, President of the United
States OF America, the memorial of the subscri-
beTs, committee appointed at a general meet
ing OF the citizens of New York having claims
upon France for spoliations committed on their
property. respectfully sheweth:
THAT during the late general war in Europe.
the merchants of New York, in common with The
merchants OF other parts of the United States
were engaged in the shipping business and carry
ing trade. In the prosecution ofthis business.
they endsavoured strictly to conform to the laws
OF nations, and OF the respective counties with
which they traded, and confidently relied upon the
protecon, which every civilized nation ieels bound
20 extend while engaged in their lawful pursuits
1t is unnecessary, 10 state in detail the measures
adopted by the great belgerent parties 10 that war
against me commerce ot neutras, by multiplying
TIE preteXts OF seizure and confiscaiion. The of
Acial records OF the government show that thew
were carried to an extent of which history had not
until then, afforded an example, and were sought
10 be Justified upon principles which no civilized
nation had before dared 10 avow. IL cannot now
be doubted, that the measures to which we refer
were intended chiefly to operate upon the com.
merce OF these United States, and to control the
policy Of their government The grasping spirit
OF European monopoly attempted 10 impose upon
Us new shackless in place of the colonial fetters
III d had been shaken of, and displayed itself in
continual efforts 10 cripple the commerce it could
not prohibit-lessen the resources il was not per-
United to appropriate--and retard the growth of
thezprosperiy il had no longer the power TO crush
Alter long Submission 10 a series of aggressioDs
continually advancing in mischief and enormty
the period finally arrived when il was decided,
that further acquiescence would be a surrender
oil national independence. The last remedy for
national injuries resorted to against one nj the
be!ligerent parties, and the settlement of DIR
claims upon Great Britain placed On the arbitra
ment OF arms. by this extreme remedy, the ac-
counts between the governments were closed
but the beneficial effects of tie contest are still
ieit not only III the elevation of the national char
acicT, but in the security of our fellow citizens
when on the ocean, from the visitation of armed
vessels, and in the silent abolition of pretensous
which, II not expressly renounced, we venture to
predict will moi again be advanced.
The claims on Spain have also been enforced bv
the government, and satisfied by the cession Of
Florida.
From France, however, one of the chief yio-
iaiors OF our neutral rights, the slightest re-
dress has been obtained. Its government does not
deny, that millions Of dollars belonging 10 the Cit
liens oil the United States were appropriated to
the use oil the former government of that coun-
try. Ii does not deny, il deny, that by
the laws OF nations, and by express treaty at the
lale restoration, the present government is bound
TO fulfil the obligations, and responsible for the
public acts, OF its predecessors yet notwihstand-
ing this solemn Obligation, not in single instance
has the Minister of the United States resident at
that court, been able to obtain satisfaction for the
numerous spoiatOns upon our commerce.
Twelve years of fruitless remOnstrance and pepo-
tatiOn have elapsed, aad redress has not only been
withheld, but the representations of the United
States have not been deemed worthy of specific
answer. The claims Of the citizens of other
countries for similar outrages, have been acknow-
lodged and paid; but those of our citizens, wheth-
er arising from tie numerous seizures under the
Berlin and Milan decrees or originating in the Sc
questraiions by France Of American property, in
order to control the policy Of this government; or
in the wiifu destruction of our vessels at sea,
without any pretext, are contemptuously rejected.
This preference for the claims OF the European
subjects over American citizens, has indeed been
50 strongly manifested, that it would seem as if
the French government meant to iDculcate i'm the
mos, striking manner, the maxim, that a nation
which is wanting 10 ITSELF is not entitled to an
equal measure OF Justice. Your MemoriaIists
will not offer any comment on these facts.-The
i-tinciions which they imply, the inferences
H~1 hey justify, are deeply Injurious 10 our ma
az character, and call loudly for the energetic
deposition Of the government, to vindcate the
honor of the couniry.The fruiteSs efforts of req
ident Ministers have obtained nothing but neglect
and insult-for in no other than an insulting light
can be regarded the demand Of France to connect
the settlement Of our claims, and the redress of
insults offered TO our flags, with her claim for the
admission OF her vessels into the ports OF Louisiana
upon the same footing as British vessels.
Your Memoralists will not here discuss the fu-
tihy OF the grounds upon which this claim has
been preferred
To prefer 1t under any circumstances, was to
insult the saglcity and integrity of the American
government; but to require its allowance, as an
equivalent tor our indisputabe demand for justice,
is trifiing with its remOnstrauces, and is not so
much an -vssion Of our claims as a denial of our
tights.
No country which values its honor and indie
pendcnce, can submit 10 a counexion between
questions affecting naisnal character, and those
growing out Of the construction Of treaties
~ is this principle which every government,
inat, while respecting itself, has commanded the
respect OF other nations, has constantly asserted;
iDd iis surrender would imply voluntary degra-
hstion, 70 which your MemoriaIists cannot sup
pose ihe government Of free people win ever
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