Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-17


should, at the time, negotiate concerning the
al between the two countries Of the treaties OF l77S which
had bcen annued by the Congress of the United States.
The claims, TO vast amount were almost all for indcm
mites to in behalf OF the United States and their
citizens The renewal OF the treaties was understood to
be for the benefit of Erance-Those treaties containing
guaranty by the United States 10 France of her posses
sons in the West Indies. That guaranty very
the United States Abecase ii exposed them to the
danger, unavoidable by them while il lasted of being in
volved in every in which France might engage at
least with Great Britain
article relieved he United States forever from the bur
den OF the guaranty France of her possessions in the
West Indes-aad the coui,ion annexed the part of
France to her assent, Chat should be expunged, was
that tho claims upon making indemnity for which she had
by the article agreed TO negotiate, should be con-
Sdcred rcnounced The claimants then, by the Act
their Government have lost their lust demand upon
France Their property has been disposed of without
consulting them and without their consent for an eoui
Evacn which 10 the benefit of the people of the
United Stacsnancy the release, forever, from bur
densomc and dangerous guaranty.
This, Mr. A. said, he took be the principle upo which
the claimants now came forward 10 ask for indemnity
was upon the justice OF their country not upon
the generosity OF another that they relied Heretofore
there might be doubt, whether notwithstanding the per-
emptoy dictaon OF the First Consul that the claims SHOULD
be considered as renounced there might be remnant
of pretcnson still 10 be urged upon France and then there
might be propriety in referring the claims the Com
mttcc OF Foreign Affairs. Now, all such expectations
were extinct and they had do with foreign ar-
fairs than with the affairs OF the People OF the Moon The
question between the petitioners and their own coun-
try The principle of their demand the same with that
OF wen known TO the gentleman from New York
TO the House, under the of Claims from the Niagara
frontier, and for which large indcmnes had been paid by
this country Mr.. A. thought it would have been
more ncongruous 10 have referred of the petitioners OF
these claims to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, than it
would be now refer TO them the petitions these claims.
lie hoped therefore, that the motion of the gentleman
from Connecticut would prevail, ard that the petition
would be referred TO a Select Committee
Mr. F. Everett observed that he sorry again TO rou-
BILE the House, although the subject one well deserv-
ing the share ofs time and attention, which had recciy
ed lie was Indifferent what Committee the subject went
to- provided it went to Committee that would do i, JUS
tice The reference OF subjects 10 the different Commit
tees oil the House, often good degree decided by
usage. The gentlemen who had served the Commit
tee of Foreign Affairs, for the last six wears would bear
him out in the statement that great deal of the business
before that committee related TO claims under Florida
treaty, and in degree affecting present relations
with any foreign Power. difficult question of private
claim growing out of Convention with Agicrs but
without any possible bearing upon present relations
with that Regency had been before the Committee of Fo-
reign Affairs for several OF the last sessions The present
claims had already been stated, had been repeatedly
before that committees. In reply TO remark which he
had made when up before, the gentleman from South
Carolina (Mr. Drayton) expressed doubt whether
the subject had been reported upon than once,
by the Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. Everett
observed, that he now held in the volume before him
report, which he had made, when he had the honor
10 be the Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs
IL was sizcae book OF ITSELF 100 pages made p
however, for the most part Of compilation from very
large volume of papers, published by order OF the Senate
this subject, in the year 1896 In this report he would
not pretend that he had done justice TO the subect but he
had bestowed his best attention upon it, and devoted con-
siderable time to its preparations particularly the selcc-
ton oil the most important parts from the volume of be-
tween 500 and 900 pages already alluded to- Gentlemen
would find the Report No. 50, of the second session of
the Goth Congress- and he believed the collection of doc
ments appended TO it, would be found contain most OF
the materials requisite TO make up opinion of the case
In the concluding paragraph of this report express men
non l. made OF report on the subject at a former
session. in the of Blenkenshp which Mr. e. also had
the honor TO make from the Committee of Foreign Affairs
Ii was Short and for stated waived discussion OF
the subject He believed he had made another report ON
the same topic, but was not sure.
A word or two in reply TO the gentleman from New
York, Atr Hoifman who spoke of these high claims
can old acquaintance of the House.. Mr. T. feared The
House not always governed by the rules courtesy
observed in private e and apt TO treat its old acquan
tances with less kindness than comers though per
haps less deserving of is notice. lie knew that wa
against claim TO have been long and unsuccessuy be
lore the House; and yet if the claim is just he hoped
was no reason for not paying it, that I'D les
9hq Which, he Would ask permission to state T.
the House In the year 1926, volume of papers was
published, by order of the Senate which had been fur
nished on call OF that body, by the Department of State
Sir, that volume contained the materials for complete de-
mons'rauon justice of these claims materials till then
locked up In the archives of State Since the appearance
OF that collection OF papers, the of opinion in both
Houses oil Congress, had set strongly in favor of the claims
re had already observed that in this House two and he
believed three, committees had reported in its favor In
The Senate since the PERIOD four if five fvora
BILE reports had been made, of accompanied with
bills providing for the payment OF the claims Two
reports proceeded from the present Secretary fState Mr.
Livingston; they very able he would say conclu
sve and established both the Justice and couiiv If tb
CLAIMS IN the most ncontroverble manner. Since the
case had been understood, there had believed becp
an adverse expression of opinion by any committee of Ell
ther House.
Mr. +. begged leave to make one more remark II was
believed that, by the late Convention with France nro.
vision Is made for the payment of claims on that Pow
er accrunS since 1900. As the payment of our claims
similarly situated on other European Powers will follow
as matter OF course, shall then have this extraordinary
state OF hingtat of all the claimants for acts of spoa
ton by Foreign Powers, the present class are the only
ones to which justice is to be denied Our old claims ON
Great Britain OF the year 1904 paid our claims ON
kusSa, Sweden, Denmark, and SPAIN have been paid
our claims France and other Powers for spoiaons nm
der the Continental system, 10 be paid and The
present claimants whose demand has been eGuitably trans
lerred to our own government, will be left the only class
unsaiisled In other words government will be
the only government which viii not do Justice 10 our own
citizens. lie was this state of things TO which
no gentleman would wish TO give his sanction; and he
trusted that the gentleman from New York. old as the
In that case he felt sure he would find to rest on the
strongest foundations of justice.
Mr. McDulhc wished 10 know if were intended par
lculary to refer the spoatons prior 1900 to Select
Committees or 10 include all claims of the same kind in tlo
reference If the first, he should oppose -he asked
for information.
Mr. Ellsworth replied that he considered the claims of
the present petitioners of sufficient magnitude TO merit a
reference by themselves, and that it his opinion they
should be so referred, without reference TO Others
Mr. McDuie then, in reply stated himself TO be OPP
posed TO the reference of the claims III question Sc
iect Committee.
The question then taken referring the Memoir
al to the Committee Of Foreign Relations and decided in
/ the affirmative.
| WAsHGNGToN, Dec. II, 1881,