Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-23

vernlnent had not released them and therefore the
government ought not to pay them. But MIR. w con-
tended, had advanced too TAR al this time TO urre
tins hypothesis Other claims no less valid than these
Were, mad been pressed upon France, and she had
stipulated to hy, IN satisfaction of them twenty-five
millions OF francs. 1t had never been supposed that
the caims prior to e0O could be compensated out of
TINS fund. because they had been released Under
the late treaty, board of commissioners had been
established to ascertain the and validity Of the
CLAIMS contemplated under its provisions and the
board had determined that this class of claims had no
ig TO DC paid out Of that fund, but only those
qncnt to 1900 These Mr.. w said were the claims
Inc United States had rclnquished them, and by this
act oil the Government the citizens the United States
injured by IT. had no right to apply the Government of
France oE indemnity, nor to be paid out of the twenty
hve nnhons. The other question was the amount
II might be asked, how could fix the FIVE millions
fis answer was that the in the BILL ESTIMATING
e number OF captures and conscations vessels seized
burnt, and destroyed compared with the claims AGAINST
France, admitted, did not meet the real amount due
But ne did not wish intend 10 20 into discussion of
the bill at length, would he do So unless debate en-
sued which rendered it necessary
Mr. Tyler said, that this subject was of great i'm
portanee both regarded the amount specified in the
bill and the principles involved in it, He had investi-
gated 1t To some extent and had the conclusion
That the claimants had just claim He had listened at
huVcly TO the argument of the honorable member from
assac husett', and however capable he shaking
opinions ana convictions on question of law, lie had
not yet convinced him of his this subject Bul
ne was not prepared 10 discuss the question now 1t
went back to the year 1856 and embraced period up TO
iSu0-he must therefore look the history of the times
OF That period These claims had been repeatedly urged
at that very me by minister after another of our
Government, upon francecvery duty of pressing them
had been discharged by this Government to every one
of its citizens. But the main ground uoon which the
claims rested was that had entered into Convention
with France, by which they were lost SIGHT of-this
was the whole amount Of IT, and for himself could not
distinguish 1T from any ordinary Of a treaty of pence
HOW could any American citizen come here and ask COM
pensaton because the Government fthe u s had com.
promised has claim by treaty ofpeace Aswcll might an
individual whose property had been captured by British
cruiser during the late war; here and demand TO be
rerbutcd for IT. because his claim had compromised
py me treaty OF peace at Client But there another
consideration The best part OF these claims TO the
insurance companies, and if we bound TO retrbue
them tor their losses equally entitled 10 receive
share OF their profts-their premiums it was well
known, were monsrons. He wond like 10 see the ac-
count stated lTly FIVE take the losses let us take the
profits. Mr.. T. said, he was willing thus TO state
the accor for the most immense profits were made at
that period in rnde but he did not intend TO nrm III,
subject w
Mr. Benton said he was pleased to see ho, the ocn,c.
man from VA (Nr Iyer,) had opened the debate upo
The true grounds the principle involved and the amount
appropriated in the bill During Ia years that he mir
- mad the honor Of seat this floor rather durin
~ years OF that tnc he had narrowly watched this hill
lie had hcen constantly anxious that some gentleman
competent 10 the task would do Justice to it, and place
the subject before the American People in the point of
view IN which IT ought 10 be placed. He (AIr b. had
not mad time to look into the question We had volume
OF OOO pages LAID tables years ago which
was only an cptcmc.--no it not an eptone for
that term Implied that the whole subject was brought
opt bat 1t was only oncsded exhibition of the case
the papers Being selected by the agent Then reports
had been made on the subject He meant nothing unkind
IN allusion to hem but they had come forward NOT in
way to command entire respect. This bill too was
named upon this partc document He did not COM
plain of it, bat he thought there ought 10 bc n mnort
which should go into the whole subject The con,nleo
who reported the bill composed of FIVE three of
whom were web known to be in favor of the claim One
gentleman (hr PTeston) not here, and the other
(Slr Grundy0 literally swamped in the business of
the Post Office from which he did expect 70 be reev-
cd until tile middle ofFebruary The Committee was So
framed as that was impossible to bring the subject be-
lore the country lie (Ar b had not time TO examine
lho" Dut te b'i was not to be galiopcd through at
once le would take it up and try 60 make binselfmss
ter OF At lie very glad the hon gentleman from Viz
gina (Mr Tyler) had turned his attention to H. Mr.
D. sad ms own convictions that the bill ought
not to pass and he should feel himself culpabe and re-
CARELESS Of The interests of his country if he omitted to
give II his attention. The time TO which tho cl,;,,
lated were not limited to 1893 but went back to 5 be
were not limited 10 acts of the revolutionary Govern
lhent Pn would include any that could be trumpcd up
under Louis XVI, the first year Of the constIIa;e =
Was there ever an instance of such ilmitablc b3
IT went back TO the time when there might not be citizen
OF the Cmed States, and the door was opened as Wide
y as possible Tor INC admission of claims Language
could not be looscr than the phraseoogy of the Dill
mere any case OF SEIZURE, OF capture or of con
hsSauon since 70, which could not be paid under this
Dih' fhe cases under which it was alleged COM
Pensation only could be made were widely differ
cht rom the last treaty with France The claims un
Ger mat treaty were eraIned by the negotiators with
the utmost possible precision. LIST For compensation for
vessels seized at St Sebastisn which had becn n.ol
there by the French General Thouvenot comm6ndinr
For captures made under the Berlin decree beloefa
decree known 3D. For captures made afer ;,s 20
vocation; and 4h for vessels burnt sea TO prevent in
formation OF the movements of the French fleet from he
ing communicated TO thc British But NJ b. said no
] flp
not to b. gaopPed through he begged to say that lac
had some facts, both to its principles and details which
he wished to lay before the SENATE
y r. Preston said, that rs the honorable gentlemen from,
MISSOURI had alluded to linn in his remarks he felt bound
TO say word in explanation lie would be clad il tha
gentleman and the honorable member from Viroinio
(Nlr lyerD would give thorough investigation to this
SUBJECT lie chr p lad been placed on the commit.
tee he supposed in sort by accident perhaps b.
cause he came from section OF country known 10 e
opposed to eNrayagant expenditures of the public mo
ncy lie had investigated the documents 10 which thc
gentleman alluded, and the favorable report Of MIR ~
vngson on the subject and he had formed his opinion
OF the merits OF these claims from them lie took the
only report there against them and rave tho whole
ms undivided attention, friend DESTROYS of suppr
ing them but lac found them altogether untenabs Tho
amount OF the claim obstacle its passaro l,,
ne did not view that as ofany quencc rod viii
the principle involved Whether IL WIS s n,ilI;ens 49, r
hundred millions, Il made difference with him n no
honor or honesty of the nation was implicated he cor.d
not how much OF blood might cost he would
support It. whether 10 for claims anterior or sla
qcht t0JSOO Many Of these claimants were his copst-
tuents widows and children, and therefore bo eif ,
friendly disposon towards them But there were dan
ger0us aud delicate questions involved I'm IT, which re-
CURED deliberate and close attention This he waa not
able 10 give IL now. As regarded the treaty Of az h.
which these claims were compromised be did not co.,
sider them strengthened BY that act We were williny
to have given three times the amount specified in this I'm
to have bought ourselves from the tanIncl s Of taf ro
MIR Benton replied, that the gentleman from s Carr
lima (Mr Prcson) thought the magnitude of the cl,s
presented IN obstacle 10 the passage Of fhe bill Ifo
believed that when that gontlcmsn had more exro-
Renee here, the course Of our legislation wonld con
vince him That IL was claims Of magnitude which
were most successful that precisely i'm proportion Il,
rUf In tuua