The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-29
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT,
FRENCH SP0LlATIONS.
AUGUST 90, ls4S,

fKENCll StUllh lONo'
70 The Senate Of The United States
f. | return 10 The Senate, in which it o.
nsnsIed, the Bill entitled an oct 10 pro-
vide for the sscerlsinment and satis(ac-
lion Of claims Of American citizens for
spolistions committed BY The Fench
prior 10 the 3lst Of Jolly, 1901 which
was presented TO me on the OH Instant,
with my objections 10 lis becoming a
law.
In attempting 10 give the bill The care
lul examination it requires, difficulties
presented themselves 10 The outset, from
the remolcness Of the period TO which
the claims belong, The compIicatednalure
Of The Transaction 10 which they origina-
ted, end the protracled negotiations TO
which they led between France and the
United States. The short time inter
veuing between The passage Of The bill
by Congress and the approaching close
Of their session, ss well as the pressure
Of other official duties, have not permit
ted me TO extend my examination OF the
subject into its minute details. But in
the consideration that ! have been able
to give 10 ii, fad objections OF grave
character 10 lie provisions.
For The satisfaction Of The claims pro-
vded for il, is proposed 10 appropriate
five millions Of dollars.--l can perceive
no legal or equitable ground upon which
this large appropriation can rest. A por-
ton of The claims have been more than
half a century before The government IN
lis Executive or legislative departments
and oil of them had their origin in e.
vents which occurred prior 10 1900
Since 1900, they have been from time
10 lime before Congress. No greater
necessity or propriely exists for proyd-
ing for The claims al this time than has
existed for near half q century; during
all which period this questionable meas
,ure has never until The present time re
ceiyed The l,vorable consideration Of
Congress. 1t is scarcely probable, if the
claim had been regarded as obligatory
upon The Government, or constituting
an equitable demand upon the Treasury
that those who were 'contemporaneous
with the events which gave rise 10 it,,
should no, long since have done justice
TO The claimants. The Treasury has Of.
ten bsen in a condition 10 enable lheGov
ernmInl 10 do so without inconvenience
il the claims had been considered just,
MR. Jefferson who was fully cognizant
Of The early dissenlion between lheGov-
ernment Of The Uciled States andFrance
out Of which The claims arose, in his an.
nual message 10 1908 sdverled 10 the
large surplus then in The Treasury, and
its probable acumulslion,' and inquired
whether il should be 'unproductive in
The public VAULTS and yet these claims
though then before Congress were MOI
recognized or paid. Since tha, time
the public debt Of the revolution and Of
The war Of 1879 has been extinguisbed,
land at several periods sincet The Treasu
Ty has been in possession OF large sur.
plusses over The demands upon it. In
1886, the surplus amounted TO many
millions OF dolIsrs,and for want of prop.
er objects 10 which 10 apply il,it was di.
rec'ed by Congress TO be deposited with
the States.
Dnring this extended course Of time,
embracing periods eminenlly favorable
tor satisfying all just demands upon The
government, the claims embraced in
g this bill met with no favor in Congress,
beyond the reports Of committees, in
one or the other branch. These cir.
cumstances alone are calculated 10 rails,
strong doubts in respect 10 these claims,
and especially, ss oil information neces.
ssry toa correct judgment Cocerning
them, has been long before the public.
These doubts are strengthened in my
mind by the examination | have been
enabled 10 give 10 the transaction in