Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-13


that might be ascertaincd to what this REFUSAL their
part, would lead For, surel if it turned hat there
would not BE- any prospect of the treaty being fulfilled by
the Government OF France there could any propr
ETY. at all in continuing the Commission beyond its present
Legal N. term p,r.u -
would make the extension oil the Commission Necessary
he ground upon which the appropriation had been re-
fused by the French Chamber that large,
being 20 millions OF francs The Board OF Commissioners
was appointed to ascertain the amount OF claims aud he
believed that they would be found when fully ascersn
ed, 10 amount 10 four times that He did appre
bend That there was any just cause TO suppose that dr
necessary papers would be withheld They not yS
been all called for, and, when they were, he supposed
that they would be furnished
Mr. Barringer rose to express his concurrence in \
the views OF his colleague, (r. Mckay so far have
immediate action the bill postponed. 1t appeared to
him. that throughout the whole Of this Transaction,
have acted premaurely. This Commission had been APP
pointed, and had been in existence, al expense 10
the county, for two years. to decide such claims
should be presented TO them He believed, however,
that they had not been actually in session one fourth oil
that time, for Of materials to act upon. Whilsi, II
contrary had been adopted and The claims had been
first collected, and then commission for adjudca
ton, much saving Of time and money would have result
cd He should like 10 have assurance, that, il the
Commission now prolonged there would be any more
probability OF getting the testimony which deemed
soimporant from the French records within the Propos
ed of extension than there had for the past
years II he could prescribe course, il would be, that,
after all the claims before the commissions which they
had materials to decide were acted upon the commission
should be suspended by law only to be revived when the
defective materials collected; and in this way the
whole OF them might be disposed OF in three or months
in the hope that in the lime explanations Could
be given and some modification proposed in consequence,
TO enable hs House 10 fix definite day 10 be named
me BILL within which evidence might be coll, cted.
Mr.. Wilde as there expectation that such nior-
nation could be given, expressed his preference that
vote should be taken at upon The bill.
Mr.. Reed also expressed his wish that the postpone
men would not be acceded TO.
The question the motion 10 postpone the bill was
ken aud negalived
Mr.. Williams said he would to re commit the bill,
with instruction limit IFS operation to six months He
having claims already before the Commission, who had
been able collect the evidence as TO the merits up
which their claims depended might be enabled TO col
ec IT, Ii seemed to him. at the time, that, under
the circumstances OF the refusal Of the French Chamber
to appropriate money 10y into effect the Treaty, it
perfectly nugaory for this Government go with
the adjudication OF claims, the payment of which
Mr.. Wilde instanced the of the claim of the heirs
OF r. w. Meade, as one in which, in pursuit Of econo-
my, much extravaganza might be incurred The claims
OF Mr. M had been excluded, in consequence Of the Ii
imitation OF the lime fixed Tor the Commission under the
Florida treaty When it found that the evidence to
| establish his claims not sufficient application
made Spain for III aud, when it procured the Com
mission having expired, Mr.. NJ, in justice to himself,
presented his claims TO Congress, and there had been
money expended upon them since, by the time
sumed in the examination and discussion of them, them
would have sufced originally to have paid iien Hay-
ing knowledge OF the business of The Board COM
mssoners under the French treaty, Mr.. W. said, he
knew further time was 10 obtain evidence
He knew instances in which individuals had, appca-
ion obtained papers from the French archives and upon
which their claims adudicated. Blu, this they had
L
the French Government refused TO give The testimony
But was not customary TO permit papers 10 be taken
from the archives OF the Court vi Prizes the French CO.
venment did not consider itself bound go furnishing,
at its own expense, copies OF them. This, he believed
the only objection, but he did not suppose that
would be any reiusl finally, comply with the prov
OF treaty soemD'y entered into, and ratified by the
spectve Governments 1t was, therefore, the duty of
this Government to go on, and have the claims adjud-
Gated.
Mr. Wayne said, that should not deprive ourselves
of the right to coerce il necessary the full performances
/ : L hat nj he
French Government had refused for some unex
planned, to make an appropriation for this object But ii
was also true that the King OF the French, and his late
Ministry in favor Of its being carried into effect
Would it not follow, then, that, if we suspended ac
lion the subject, should place both the King Of the
French and the President OF the United States false
position? Would the Chamber OF Deputies be justified
IN saying, when the subject should up again before
hem, that necessary for hem 20 on pro-
ceedings under the treaty had been suspended by The u
States!
Mr. w. argued at some length, to shew that by thus
suspendng action the subject. the strongest possible
reason would be afforded 10 resist the wishes OF the King
oil France and bis Minister'S who were DESTROYS 10 comply
with treaty necessary this protect the rights
| oil our citizens. The suspension of the Commission
even Tor limited time would have the effect OF causing
the agents. sent TO collect evidence suspend their
operations For, when they should prosecute their abor
would not be said that his useless Congress hav
ng by suspension OF proceedings under the Treaty.
que'ed in the determination TO which the Chamber had
MIR. W. said he hoped that Congress would pause
before they would take any Steps which would have such
tendency to defeat eventually the claims OF our ci-
Tor spolaions upon their property OF such ohaac
ter, that they could be denounced by other than
that OF sea-robbery. He concluded by saying, that rels
ing TO pass the bill the report that the French
Chamber had refused to do what demanded an act
OF justice would DO only giving them encouragement
persevere in injustice. Whilst il went on with it, il
would enable the King Of the French the app
cation for tile appropriation TO be renewed upon which, il
highly probable, the bill OF appropriation would be
passed by the Chamber.
Mr. Archer cOnteDded that were not authorized on
the that the French Chamber had refused,
and by majority OF votes, TO make the necessary APP
Precipitation Of money, TO suspend the performance Of that
part OF the Treaty which devOyed, by s terms upon Us
Any refusal ON their part, appeared to him 10 make IL the
more incumbent on this nation TO execute faithfully
Obligations. In the hope, that finally the French Govern.
ment would do the with theirs The rumor, instead
OF being received evidence by Congress reason
suspend operations ought rather IL confirmed to be made
subject Of negotiation by the Executive Aud, in such
case would not, he asked, by having these claims
adudeated, provided under the Treaty be in strong
posion' Would not be enabled 10 soy the French
Government here the claims Of citizens upon you.
which, by the usage amongst ali civilized nations, have
been asceraned to be just, or which citizens are
entitled under the most sacred pledges from you, TO
ceye indemnify
Mr. j. Q. Adams followed next in The debate concur
ring generally in the views expressed by the Chairman
Of the Committee for Foreign Affairs lie did con-
side the Of the French Chamber refusal to carry
toto effect the provisions incumbent upon their nation BY
q treaty solemny ratified II only refusal tor a
lime 10 make the appropriation. lie cone5ed in the OPT
non that, instead Of suspending part were
the bound go with the commission aud
tain the amount OF The claims which citizens had