Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-09

with the Adjudication OF claims, the payment OF
which was uncertain and doubtful.
Mr.. WILDE instanced the case of the claim
of the heirs of r. W. Meade, as one in which,
in pursuit of economy, much extravaganza
might be incurred The claims Of Mr.. M. had
been excluded, in consequence OF the limitation
of the time fixed for the Commission under the
Florida treaty. When it was found that the evil
dence to establish his claims was not sufficient,
application was made to Spainforlt it; and, when
it was procured, the Commission having expir-
ed. MI. M. in Justice to himself, presented his
claims to Congress, and there had been more
money expended upon them since, by the time
consumed in the examination and discussion OF
them. than would have sufficed originally to
have paid them. Having some knowledge OF
the business of the Board of Commissioners I'M
der the French treaty, Mr.. W. said, he knew
that further time was necessary to OBTAIN evi-
dence. He knew instances in whlchlndlvlduals
had, on application, obtained papers from the
French archives and upon which their claims
were adjudicated. But this they had done at
their own expense He did not understand that
the French Government refused to give the tes-
timony But, as it was not customary to permit
papers to be taken from the archives of the
Court of Prizes the French Government did
not consider itself bound to go on furnishing, at
it's own expense, copies Of them. This he be-
lieved was the only objection, but he did not
suppose that there would be any refusal, finally,
to comply with the provisions of treaty solemn
ly entered into, and ratified by the respective
Governments. twas, therefore, the duty OF this
Government to go on, and have the claims ad-
Indicated.
Mr.. WAYNE said, that we should not deprive
ourselves of the right to coerce, if necessary,
the full performance of this treaty. 1t was true
that one department Of the French Government
had refused, for some reason unexplained, to
make an appropriation for the object But 1t
was also true, that the King Of the French, and
his late Ministry, were in favor of its being car
ried into effect Would it not follow, then, that
if we now suspended action on the subject, we
should place both the King of the French and
the President of the United States in a false po-
sition? Would not the Chamber of Deputies be
justified in saying when the subject should come
up again before them, that it was not necessary
for them to go on as proceedings under the
treaty had been suspended by the United States?
Mr.. W. argued at some length, to shew that
by thus suspending action on the subject the
strongest possible reason would be afforded to
resist the wishes of the King Of France and his
Ministers, who were DESTROYS to comply with
Treaty so necessary as this was to protect the
rights Of our own citizens. The suspension of
the Commission, even for limited time, would
have the effect Of causing the agents. sent over
to collect evidence, to suspend their operations.
For, when they should prosecute their labors,
would it not be said that this was useless, Con-
gress having, by suspension Of proceedings
under the Treaty, acquiesced in the determine
ton to which the Chamber had come Mr.. w.
said he hoped that Congress would pause before
they would take any steps, which would have
such a tendency to defeat eventually the claims
of our own citizens for spoilations upon their
property, ofsuch a character, that they could be
denounced by no other term than that of sea-
robbery. He concluded by saying, that refu-
sing to pass the bill on the mere report that the
French Chamber had refused to do what was
demanded as an act of justice, would be only
giving them encouragement to persevere in in
justice. Whilst if we went on with it. it would
enable the King of the French to cause the APP
plication for the appropriation to be renewed,
upon which, it was highly probable, the bill Of
appropriation would be passed by the Chamber.
Mr.. ARCHER commended that we were not
authorized, on the mere rumor that the French
Chamber had refused and by a majority of s
votes to make the necessary appropriation Of
money, to suspend the performance of that part
of the Treaty which devolved by its terms, up
on u.s. Any refusal on their part, appeared to
him to make it the more incumbent on this ma
ton to execute faithfully our obligations in the
hope, that, finally, the French Government
would do the same with theirs. The rumOr in
stead ofbeing received as evidence by Con-
gress, reason to suspend operations, ought
rather, if confirmed, to be made subject Of ne
case, would we not, he asked, by having these
claims adjudicated as provided under the Trea-
ty, be in a strong position? Would we not be
enabled to say to the French Government, here
are the claims Of our citizens upon you, which,
by the usage amongst all civilized nations have
been ascertained to be just, for which our citi-
zens are entitled, under the most sacred pledg-
es from you, to receive indemnity?
Mr.. J. @. ADAMS followed next in the debate
concurring generally in the views expressed by
the Chairman of the Committee for Foreign
Affairs. He did not consider the act of the
French Chamber as refusal to carry into ef-
feet the provisions incumbent upon their nation,
by treaty solemnly ratified. 1t was only re-
fusal for time, to make the appropriation. He
conceded in the opinion, that instead, Of sus-
pending on our part, we were the more bound
to 60 on with the commission, and ascertain the
amount of the claims which our citizens had to
prefer, &c.
After few further remarks from Mr.. WILL
LIAMS and Mr.. REED
The question, on the motion of Mr. WILLIAMS,
to recommit the bill, with instructions to limit
the commission to six months, was put and ne
gatived.