Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-11-30
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
LETTER VI.

DIR: 20 your CdtS aiu
committed, in a great measure the ho-
nor of the nation; its fame, ITS glory,
the preservation of the verdure of its
high and spotless tenown; the sanctity
Of its faith, the majesty ofits justice,
all of which are injured, blurred, ifnot
degraded,by the protracted suspension
OF these claims. Does the imputation
sound rash? Does the awful respon-
sibiIity Jar on your feelings, or offend
your pride? If this be the case, SIR
there must arise in your mind a suspl-
cion of neglected duty. which your
high and sensitive patriotism will has
ten 10 repair. That | am not more
emphatic on this occasion than the
merits of the case of this claim fully
warrant, permit me TO refer you to Mr..
Giles report in the House OF Repre-
sentatives of April p 1902, as well
as to claim yonr special attention to
the following passage from the report
of Marion, in the same body, on the
18th Feb. 1907. Mr.. Marion's report
thus concludes:
.'From a mature consideration. OF
the subject, and from the best Judg-
ment your committee have been able
to form on the case, they are efoppin-
ION that this government, by expunging
the second article of our convention
with France of the 30lh September,
1900, became bound to indemnify the
mcmoriazists for their just claims, eohtch
they otherwise s0ould righyuIly hare
had on the government Of France, for
the spoliations committed on theit
commerce by the illegal captures made
by the cruisers and other armed yes
sells of that power, in violation Of the
law of nations, and in breach of treat
les then existing between the two ma
lions, which claims they were, By the
rejection of tie said article Of the con-
Uention toreUer barred from preferriag
to the government Of France for COM
pensation.
Authority, grant, is of little weight
unless reason and justice sanction It's
DEGREES; but when it ratifes the voice
Of truth-when it confirms the edict OF
Justice, it seals forever the double
bond OF truth and equity which binds
the party appealedtog grant the compen-
sation required. Forty years of con-
current opinion, in the radical justice
of public claim, is equivalent to an
eternity Of the voice ofreason, con6r-
ming the principles of truth. Sir there
is no logic, no reason, no force of law
or equity, that can exceed the sanctity
of suchsa confirmation. The question
then, is simply resolved into one of
duty to discharge an obligation-and
this duty rests between you and Ethe
Congress-you,. as the depositary OIL
the nations honor, and the executive
guardian of the peoples rights-Con-
gress, as the representative of the
people, bound to respond TO their will,
protect their property, and preserve
their interests. On you especially
devolyes most solemn and grave duty
towards the suffering portion of your
fellow citizens, who, in order to prove
your sincerity OF patriotism and devo
ton to your constitutional duty, have
contributed 10 elevate you to power
in the firm belief that you would so adj
minister power as to dispense justice t,
the long suffering commerce of til
land, which has, in so signal man
ner, languished under the cold indii
terence oftbe very government create
to protect ia source of the prosper
lty OF the country in peace. and an arr
OF Its chief defence in war; the chic
+ object ofjealous and careful Iegislatio
IN all ages and among all nations.
On general principle, sound pol
cy alone would dictate an immediat
adjustment of these claims. in refer
once to our commercial interests. lie
II once be understood as a settled an
established principle that governmen
may, at It's caprice,surren9er the claim
OF our citizens against foreign notions
Tor spoliations or their property, with
out subIecting itself to responsible
Tor such claims, and where shall W
Ind our foreign commerce. Woul
It be likely TO flourish, or sure to fade
Would il stimulate our merchants inf
enterprise, or palsy them by distrusl
England in respect to sound policy
IS a bright example 10 all nations. Sh
protects her commerce with a jealous
a vigilance, justice, maternal care
that permits not shilling TO be los
by foreign spoliation Of domesti
wrong. On the instant ofoppression
her fleets track the '.spoiler'' home an,
compel him to disgorge his plunder
infilct retribution, and make tha trans
gressor hard indeed7 But who IS eth
spoller' OF these claimants! Alas! ]
IS our own country. Would Grea
Britain, sir, ever change places wit
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