Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-11-30
From the Courier & Enquirer Of NOU. l6.
THE CONVENTION OF FRENCH CLAIM.
ANTS

French upon Anne Tican commerce prior to the year
1907 commenced its session in this city at the Soci-
ETY. Library yesterday morning at 10 O'Clock. About
one hundred persons were IN attendance, represent.
ing claimants from nearly all of the Northern and
Southern Skates. Some notion may be formed OF
the general extent OF the interests involved from the
fact that the delegation OF three from Boston in
beh III of nearly two hundred individuals all OF whom
have claims to considerable amount. The Con-
ventlon was composed entirely OF gentleman OF abll
ity and influence, land the deepest inter
itested in the cause which had assembled them to-
gelher. Mr. GEO. GRIswoLD OF this city, was cleo
ted President and at his call THEODORE SEDGwlcK,
Esq, in behalf Vi the New York Committee, made
general statement Of the objects of the Convention
embracing brlet sketch OF the history OF the claims
aud an outline OF the facts connected with them
which make their neglect case of peculiar hard
ship. The refusal OF Congress to pay these claims
he said was strictly analogous that tacit repudia
ton which has dsgraced the National faith and tar
nlshed the credit OF some of the finest States in the
Union.
The history Of the claims, in which our readers
must be interested is simply this. In ITS the Uni
ed States sought an ally, in the war for lndepen-
dence, IN France and a mutual stipulation was
madeby the terms of which France was to aid in our
struggle, and we. if successful in return guar
antee to France her POSSESSIONS in the West Indies-
France fulfilled her part Of the agrsssament, and our
between England and France which was carried on
with the utmost asperlty and the most wanton 2sre
gard OF the settled principles of International law.
Our assistance thus became of especial imporl ance
to France and because it was not given, the French
Convention OF the 9Th Of May, 1893, directed their
ships OF war to seize the vessels Of all neutral pow
ers to take out whatever provisions they might
taln 10 pay tor them and Tor the detention OF the YES
sells and then to send them home The British Gov
eminent retaliated by her orders in council of the
9Th June, directing the seizure Of all vessels bear
ing provisions from any European port. She did
this maintaining that her paper blockade was legal
She accordingly seized vessels, confiscatcd their
provisions, bat paid for them in full. The French
Government likewise, never denied justice to our
hnr rho
upon and allowed many OF them: but just at that time
our own Government stepped in and recognized its
d"tyto protect our citizens by calling upon those who
present and prove their claims She also sent agents
to France to prosecute them and demand their paw.
ment. France Immediately demanded the fulfill
m 1a OF our agreement to secure to her her West
her S2Oo,Ooo annually as the price of heir release
from this obligation. France refused to accept it and
again demanded our assistance in the But Gen.
Washington policy OF nonintervention was pursued
and our aid was refused. The spoiations according
ly went on, our Government being unable to protect
her citizens.
In 1898 the Government of the United States pas
sed three successive acts authorizing the seizure
conf scailon and sale Of those French armed vessels
employed in this system OF robbery which had then
been carried on Tor several years. In consequence
OF these acts the French Government, under Bona
pare, barred all demands on France, and thus depr
we'd American citizens who had suffered from her
sol'atlons OF all redress, except from their gov
was made that the mutual claims of France and the
United States, that is her claim upon us for the full
himent OF our guaranty and our claims upon her
for her spoiatiOns, should be left entirely to future
arbltrament. This clause was struck out by the U.
5. Senate when the Convention came up there for
ratification; and BonapaHe ratified the stipulation,
acc the amendment providing only farther
Thus the Government OF the United States confsca-
ted the property other citizens to procure a re-
lease from an agreement into which she had previous
Iu hal
that private property shall not be seized for the pub
lie use without compensation to the owners. Yet
the Government seized the private property of her
citizens and to this day has refused all compensa-
ton
This stte way in which these claims arose, and
bare recital these facts shews their and the
essential Justice upon which they are based. 1t seems
impossible, as Mr. Sedgwck remarked, that, when
they are generally understood they should not be at
once acknowledged and satisfied. Ii has been very
generally SAID IN opposition 10 these claims, that,
the original sufferers having nearly all deceased the
claims are nearly all in the hands OF Spectators;
and this representation has had much weight that
IN the act brought forward last winter it thought
necessary TO insert clause by which those holding
claims were TO be paid pro rata only the amount
which they had actually given for them. A pre-
cisey similar occurred after the close Of the rev.
ouon. which was referred to in the Convention yes
terday by Mr. Perkins, from Connecticut, in illustra
ton oil the principe involved in these claims and of
the extreme difficulty with which the most simple
justice is attained, when it seems 20 in erfere with
the aims ard objects Of party action; Soon after the
dlvlduas and OF States on the general government
came to be adjusted. Gen. Hamilton, then Secreta-
ry OF the Treasury, proposed that the debts due to
individuals should be paid in fuH, though many of
them had passed into other than the original hands,
and though the value Of the government scrip has
greatly deprecated Madison commended, thai pay
ment should be made 10 each individual only accord
ing to what he hod paid for The scrip Monroe took
ground with Madison, while Gen. Hamilton urged
against them that the scrip bore on its face the sol
amount; and that the government was bound, in
good faith tot"lfl that promise: AT that time vo-
lent contest arose as to the location of the public
budings-one section wishing them to be at Phila-
delphia and the other at Washington. Gen. Ham
ilton joined with Jefferson in urging their location
at the South and by Jeffersons influence, thus Sc
cured, and by that means one, he was able to pro-
cure The funding Of the. whole debt OF the United
States, amounting to eighty millions. Thus was that
act OF national ju'tice accomplished; not, however
until he influence OF party could be brought TO bear
upon it. 1t remans in some way, 10 prevail upon
Congress TO discharge This debt, which is one OF
equal justice and honor, to the citizens Of the United
States.
Al the Convention yesterday Mr.. Perkins thought
that special agent should be appointed urge these
lams upon the attention and action Of Congre ss
and that he should receive compensation sufficient
to enable him I'd devote TO il all his time and his most
jealous exertions. Hon B. c. Howard, of MARYLAND
thought that the matter had already been urged upon
Congress until many Of the members had become
averse 10 hearing more oft and he wished to re-
mind the Convention thatno vote had ever been pas
sed against the validity or justice OF the claims
But one vote was ever taken upon il, and then the
Senate, alter the most thorough examination and in
spite othe strenuous opposition Of Hon Sias Wright
and others, had acknowledged their justice bv
Ia rye majority, "A committee OF i've; namely Geo
que. Davis and McAll ister was appointed to draft
memorial upon the subject to Congress; and Messrs
Howard, of Md, Edwards, Grey, Perkins and Mum