Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-17

The American statements and the french statements
have each afforded bases on which 10 produce
Ssfcns; we will now present The results
There il not sins lr vessel admitted in our corrected
lais which APPEAR with s value set forth in
Che statement drawn mp ny the American Commission,
in 1884 Had this statement appeared before the treaty
Was signed tanght have hcrn the subject Of suspicion,
hnt it was made subsequently. and il is easy to un
derstand that the sna to he divided being known ana
the claims tar exceeding that sum- the interests OF those
rival claimants would naturally lead them to require
great cxacncss from the Commission of this the many
iections ad adjnuI made by the COMMISSION are
proofs. We may add that the numerous examinations
whichwe were Obliged TO make, have led us 20 place
great confidence in the proceedings OF THIS Soh"so";
the Of which has been often demonstrated
Nus
The four cutegores admitted, give. according to the
Situations of the American Commission, tota! OF
POI dollars % cents. 60 PAS 0O9 francs ga cen
times The values of the several categories were est.
mated in France different bases Four vessels destroy
Sd at sea were valued by Imperial Commission, and
have afforded us average SUN, by which have
ti.nated the others The condemned vessels sold
~ the administration of the Marine; the statements
drawn up by it give the prices brought by the greater
number of them; and the deficiency may be supplied b.
averages, which be calculated with considerable
certainty, from such exact and numerous data. The
vessels scquestced sold by the administration of
the Custom houses and its statements give exactly the
price brought BY each.
But these prices comprehend the amount Of duties.
and The obtained for the cargocs. Should the nett
produce only be refunded: II the difference would be
great the whole broug by the sale Of the Antwerp
cargoes is 664S 4i francs 50 cenmes; the nett produce
was 497G,o53 francs 80 centimes. The whole sum
brought by the sale of the ST. Sebastians cargoes
l55l7,l7G francs Sc cen,mes; the nett produce was
1898 260 francs centmes.
may be said that the object is at this time in
demnify. but to make restitution The State did not de-
stroy but 1t sold 1t Is not making PREPARATION for q
damage, but refunding sum improperly received. There
fore, the restitution should be complete.
In reply, it may be urged, that the custom house
duties, which augmented the price of goods and the
nf thn Stafa lilo maid hu
es, and not subsrac,ed from the price of goods hence
the custom-house duties should not be restored ~
the owners Of the goods, they not paid by
them.
AS the examination of this objection would have taken
time, and would have changed the question be-
fore into of political economy, did not enter IN
TO it. According to the plan which we had drawn up
tor guidance it was enough for US that the resu"
Of the cusomhouse duties was liable TO be contested
and did not therefore admit them as subjects OF IN
Identification. However, could not conceal from our
selves that if in theory custom house duties are PAID ny
the consumers. in reality the subtraction made by the
Treasury, operates in certain degree to the loss OF the
producer who receives less well Of the consumer
who and if it be considered that the articles
were sold great quantities. exceeding the ordinary
wants Of purchasers, il will undoubtedly be admitted,
that the circumstances under which the sale made,
and the application of an exorhtan tariff Of import do
ties, must have created dminuon in the value for
which indemnihcation should be- made. We have not,
therefore, made exaggerated concession, in admitting
matter for compromise only one half OF the amount OF
i
houses accepted conditions much less favorable to it,
Two tho vessels sold Bayonne e .hury Inn and
Eagel brought into ST. Sebastian prizes; the
captors and the party captured made compromise; and
together sued for the restoration Of the value Of the
prizes, duties included; and the custom house. after the
commencement of the suit, agreed 10 compromise,
condition that the principal should be paid back without
the interest.
The French estimate the bases above stated gives,
for the only categoses winch France has admitted be
subject to decentralization "a 293 262 francs IA continues
rs the amount Of incontestIbe claims, and 10522GU0
f:sncs Of those on which compromise may be made
This result appears decisive TO the financial qucs
toH; having excluded the principle of CONCESSIONS
AMI limited these concessions by vigorous research we
IND 1t The end OF the examination made with 10
tie interests of one party only very nearly the which
has been agreed TO rs i'll compromise; cannot there
1oc That the treaty has upon France the OBJ
legation to pay what she did not owe.
One other consideration struck u.s. Excluding the
ships which were destroyed at from the Of
war, and which rendered profitable to person,
and also those adjudged to prvaeers, the Treasury
ceived for the sold for its advantage, before
without condemnation, more than twenty-t millions,
besides custo-h usc duties. Thus the Convention OF
July 4th nothing than restitution, in the true
1t is indeed urged that the debts of one State to
ther are not to be settled exactly debts among in
divduIls and that after being long disputed they are
generally paid only when public utility supports The obi
cations Of good faith In principle the objection appears
to US unounded, and the debts of State TO another
when rcd to be Just should be paid as tar
reasonably possible But without discussing the priuci-
pie ofthe objection il will be sufficient to prove, that in
tactt cannot apply to The treaty OF July 4th for the pub
lie utility Of the amcable relations which this
ton establishes between France and the United States
are not to be contested.
The alliance between the two Governments and the
friendly feelings between the two NatiOns do not rest
merely upon honorable synpahies, glorious recolec
tions in common, relations founded on benefits and
gratitude; they also depend upon political interests which
permanent, and conmccIa interests which dali
Iy increasing and extending The freedom Of the seas
iS aTv iflpu tn Frupc nnItp tha Sf,tpu
The history OF the last century shows how this free
dom effected, how it lost and how it again
being established If there be but maritime Power
that Power rules the If there be two, there is b.
tween them; the intervention OF third produces
PROMISE and freedom is the result. IT, Notwithstanding
its disasters, France had in 7l3 the glory ofesahsns
the rights Of neulrus in the treaty OF Utrecht be-
by the existence of three maritime Powers, France
England, and Holland, the freedom of the
tunately effected This freedom ceased when the de
strucon Of the navy Of Holland submitted the rights of
neutras TO the chances OF the struggle frequently
quail between the two preponderatIng maritime powers
1t then policy not less prudent than liberal, which
favored the independence Of the United States. and rails
ed this third Power guaranty for the preservation
Of neutrality and the drsre to force the United States
join France in defending those rights Which England
was violating with mPun'ty, was motive it.not
cuse of the policy Of the Empire.
A rupture between the United States and France
would therefore be j common evil, to be deplored
both sides IF the Atlantic their firm and sincere union
common guaranty which both parties are Interested i"
consolidating
The extent of their commercial intercourse
ders still desirable harmony of political relations.
France and the United States seem 10 be placed III the
most proper situations with regard TO each other tor the
Advancement Of their navigation agriculture and indus
try by reciprocal explorations and mporations There
is rvashp of consequence 10 restrain that liberty of
commercial exchange, which The rights OF national
agriculture industry impose limits with regard 10 other
countries French industry obtains materials from
the United States and sends them in return its anuac
lures; the wines and bandes Of France pay for the
and tobacco Of the United States; France is the principal