Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-05-02


individual, or the success of his party
even. The "truth is mighty and will
prevail'-stick to that, Doctor, and our
word for it you will do better.
! FRENCH CLAIMS. A friend at Wash
ington having furnished us with copy
of the bill now pending in the Senate,
for the relief of the American citizens
who suffered from French spoliations,
prior to 1900, we have thought it would
be gratifying 10 the numerous claimants
in this quarter to examine the bill itself
with its accompanying amendments. We
have accordingly published them entire
in this days paper; and are happy to
state from the best information we can
collect, that there is fair prospect of
speedy and favorable decision in both
Houses of Congress.
In SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, De-
cember 90, 1881, agreeable to notice gi-
ven, Mr.. Wilkins asked and obtained
leave to bring in the following bill; which
was read twice, and referred to Select
Committee, to consist of MIR. Wilkins,
Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Chambers, Mr.
Brown, and Mr.. Dudley.
January 26, 1882.
II Reported with the following amend
ments,t to wit: The parts TO be stricken out
al. oI,ax, nl l. I,l -.
italics.
II A BILL
To provide for the satisfaction of claims
due to certain American citizens, for
spoliations committed on their commerce
prior to the thirtieth day of September,
one thousand eight hundred.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That
satisfaction shall be made, to an amount
not exceeding fire millions of dollars, to
such citizens of the United States, or to-
their legal representatives, as had valid
claims to indemnity upon the French
Government, arising out of illegal cap
lures, detentions, forcible seizures, illegal
condemmations, and confscations, made
or committed before the thirtieth day of
September, eighteen hundred: Provided,
That the provisions of this act shall not
extend to such claims as are stipulated
for in the convention concluded at Paris
on the thirtieth day Of April, eighteen
hundred and three, between the United
States and the First Consul of the French
20 70 cIa,p ctl !
ulated for in the treaty between the Uni
ted States and Spain, concluded at Wash
ington, on the twenty-second day Of Feb
ruary, eighteen hundred and nineteen,
and for the liquidation s. payment where
Of provisions is made in the said conven-
ton or in said treaty.] Provided, That
The provisions of this act shall not ertend
to such claims as are stipulated for, and
embraced IN, the contention concluded at
Paris on the thirtieth day of .4pril, one
thousand eight hundred and three, bei,ceen
the United States and the First Consul of
The French Republic, and for the iquida-
tion and payment ,chereof fprovision is made
tn The SAID convention; nor to such claims
as were paid in The ,chole, or in part, under
The provisions Of The treaty bet,ceen the u
nited States g. Spain, concluded at Wash
ington, on The t'oenty- Second Of February,
one MousanI eight hundred and nineteen.
Sic. 9. And be it further enacted,
That, for the purpose Of carrying into
effect the provisions ofthis act, and toas-
certain the full amount and validity of said
claims, three Commissioners shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate,
who shall meet at the city of Washington,
and, within the space Of t,co gears from
the time of their first meeting, shall re-
ceive, examine, and decide upon, the a
mount and validity of all the claims nclu-
ded within the description above-mention-
ed. The said Commissioners shall TAX
an oath or affirmation, to be entered on
the record Of their proceedings, for the
faithful and dlligent performance oftheir
duties; and, in case Of the death, sick
ness, or necessary absence, or rcsigna-
tion, of any such Commissioner, his place
may be supplied by appointment as afore-
said, or by the President during the re-
cess Of the Senate; Of another Commits
sioner in his stead. The said Commis-
sioners shall be authorized to hear and
examine, on oath or affirmation, every
all questions relative to the said claims,
and to receive all suitable authentic tes-
timony, on oath or affirmation, concern
ing the same; and the rules for the deci-
sion Of said Commissioners shall be the
principles Of justice, the law of nations,
and the former treaties between the Uni
ted States and France, to wit: the treaty
ofamity and commerce ofthe sixth ofFeb-
ruarY. seventeen hundred and seventy