The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-27

| necessity of expediting action on this bill
Mr.. HUNTINGTON understood his friend irom
Illinois, Mr.. BREEsE,l who moved TO reconsider,
20 say that il was more proper that inc DLl shouia
be referred 10 some other eommitleei nc MT NJ
hoped then that on the general question OF recon-
Alteration il would not be considered improper by
the senator or the Senate TO treat the subject In that
| point of view The senator from Ohio Mr.. ALLEN
had very truly stated that there very important
features in the bill, and 70 one Of them he had par
tculary refered-that was the section extending
the laws Of the United States over the whole ter
rtory Of Oregon, so that these laws would apply to
all there on the expiration Of the existing conyen-
ton. In that point Of view II becomes very i'm.
ponant question whether the bill shall be modified
Ia that feature or not. But he (Mr H. did not
propose to 60 into that at present. The question
now was simply as TO the reference Of the bill. II
TO be referred TO any standing commttee--and he
did not see any necessity for the reference TO spe-
cal eommiitee-it did appear TO him that the Com
| mlttee on Territories was the appropriate one II
was quite true that the bill comprised subjects which
| IN themselves might belong to other committees but
had never been the practice 10 divide bills and par
| eel them out TO separate committees. That would
be very lnconyenlent, and was indeed mpractleable
| The Oregon country was denominsted "territory'
in the bill, and in his judgment the Committee on
Territories was the appropriate one to which the
/ ball should be referred
| Mr.. SEWER, who remarked that the senator
| from New York Mr.. DIxl had the floor in reply To
the senator from Delaware the bill before the Sen
| ate; and the morning hour had nearly expired
he moved that the further consideration Of the mo-
lion to reconsider be postponed, and that the Senate
| proceed 20 the order of the day.
| Mr.. ALLEN desired TO say one word. lie had
no desire to protract this discussion. His sole OBJ
/ ect was TO get the bill referred promptly. He would
ask his friend from Illinois Mr.. BREEsEl TO with
| draw his motion.
| Mr.. .WESTCoTT said he had no feeling about
the motion, hut he
Mr.. SEWER rose TO ouer
The PRESIDENT reminded the senator that the
question was now on the postponement
| Mr.. BREESE then withdrew his motion
| FRENCH sPoLIAroSs.
| Mr.. DIX rose and said, it was his duty as
member Of the Committee TO which the subject had
been referred to say that he dssented from the
port ofIhe comnnitIee and lie would state his rea.
| soma therefor. He could not say, like the honor
able senator from Delaware, Mr. CLATroS,l thai
he had no friends Interested; for large number Of
/ he claimants were citizens OF the State OF New
York, and his personal friends. With their state
| nents he had been furnished; had read them all
and felt, after doing so, DESTROYS Of seeing justice
done them; but concluded they had no Just claim or
| this government He thought the favorable reports
| Of past years ought not 10 be regarded as an argu
nent in favor Of the applications, as the prac'
ce had been to refer the subject 10 those committees
friendly the claims. The aid received from France
| in our early struggles with England would no soon
lie elfaced from memories and yet history showed
| she was not without interested motives in cO-ope.
| rating with the American patriots. The treaty
| between France and the United States, between
| which and these claims there was said to be in.
separable Connexlon, required 10 be only examined
to show it not inseparablG. IL was treaty for
defence and mutual alliance, and one of amity and
/ L.,
| Great Britain, and after the most fragrant ng-
| gressions by both powers began to he committed on
the vessels Of the United States. France made our
refusnl to comply with her unreasonable demands a
| pretext for committing depredations. None could
read the mastery exposition of the subject by Mr..
| Jefferson, without feeling convinced there was a
papable and gross violation of treaties by France.
The treaty Of 1896, called Jays treaty, gave Frunce
| new offence She asserted that we had violated the
principle that free trade made free goods, and the
principle Of reciprocity. He would not say that the
past measures of our government in regard TO thess
subjecte, wasight, because of the eminent who
| had the management Of them; but it was a reason
Why there should be elaboration and inquiry. lfany
fault was committed in withholding these claims in
other times, il attributable to Washington and
Lafayette. Mr.. ID. went into detailed examlna-
ton Of the various treaties and DEGREES of the two
countries to show that the conduct of France JUST.
fed the declaration of the United States that 1t ex.
honorated the latter from all obligations previously
existing.
He contended that, by the action of both nations
all the treaties existing in 1893 were abrogated. All
| the negotiations which had taken place proceeded
the principle that the treaties made conferred mu-
tual obligations. convention was entered into in
1900, the second article of which postponed all fur
| Their negotiation. The proceedings that took place
on the part Of the American government after 1923
the results Of the congressional act authorizing the
seizure of French cruisers, and other of war
like nature, exonerated our government from a
| charge of apathy. Judging Of these claims,
which they called upon now, after lapse OF
forty years, TO allow it was safest TO rely on the
| contemporaneous testimony of the times. They had
still been refused; and it would be unsafe TO allow
them now. He regt cited to differ from his friend
the senator from Delaware,) but could not avoid
holding that we were not bound to respond to these
| claims. He knew of no principle by which gov
eminent, after extraordinary efforts to obtain re.
dress of grievances, could be held responsible for
them. Il had obtained by the negotiation of 1903
four millions, and of 1884, nearly five millions OF
dollars He held government had done its duty
and was fully exonerated from all further action in
the matter.
Mr.. d. having concluded, the Senate went into
executive session; and after some time spent there
in
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
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