Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-09-05
VETO OF THE FRENCH sPOLIATION
BILL.
To The Sen0fe of Tho IT,;,.5 S,.

ated, the bill entitled San act to provide for
the ascertainment and satisfaction of claims
OF American citizens for spoiations com
United by the French prior to the 3lst day
fJuly, 1901" which was presented to me
on the 9th inst. with my objections TO its
becoming law.
In attempting 10 give the bill the careful
examination 1t requires, difficulties present.
ed themselves in the outset from the remote.
ness OF the period to which the claims be.
long, the complicated nature the transac.
tons IN which they originated, and the ORC.
tracted negotiations to which they led be.
tween France and the United States
The short time intervening between the
passage Of the bill by Congress and the ap
preaching close of their session, as well as
the pressure Of other official duties, have
not permitted me TO extend my examina
ton OF the subject into its minute details.
| But in the consideration which have been
able to give 10 it, find objections of g,ave
character to its provisions.
For the satisfaction of the claims provid-
ed Tor BY the bill, it is proposed 10 appropri.
ate five millions of dollars. | can perceive
no legal or equitable ground upon which
this large appropriation can rest. A por
ton Of the claims has been more than half
century before the government, in its
executive or legislative departments, and
all OF them had their origin, in events which
occurred prior to the year 1900. Since
| 1902 they have been from time to time be.
fore Congress. No greater necessity or
proprlety exist for providing for these
claims at this time than has existed for near
half century; during all which period this
questionable measure has never until now
receive the favorable consideration OF Con
gress. 1t is scarcely probable, if the clam
had been regarded as obligatory upon the
government, or constituting an equitable
demand upon the treasury, than those who
| were contemporaneous with the events
which gave rise to it, should no, long since
have done justice to the claimants. The
treasury has often been in condition to
enable the government TO do so without
inconvenience, if these claims had been con-
sidered just. Mr.. Jefferson, who was fully
cognizant Of the early dissensons between
the governments OF the United States and
Fance, out Of which the claims arose, in his
annual message in 500 adverted to the
large surplus then in the treasury, and its
"probable accumulation" and inquired
wheth it should be "unproductive in the
public vaults" and yet these claims, though
then before Congress, were no, recognized
or paid. Since that, the puqic deb, OF the
revolution and OF the war OF 1915 has been
extinguished, and at several periods since,
the treasury has been in possession flarge
surpuss over the demands upon it. In
l $50 surplus amounted TO many millions Of
dollars, and for want Of proper objects to
which to apply it, it was directed by Con-
gress TO be deposited with the States.
During this extended course Of time,
embracing periods eminently favorable for
satisfying all just demands upon the govern.
ment, the claims embraced in this bill met
with no favor in Congress, beyond reports
oil committees, IN one or the other branch.
These circumstances alone are calculated
to raise strong doubts in respect TO these
claims; especially as all the information nee.
essary to correct judgment concerning
them, has been long before the public.
These doubts are strengthened in my mind
by the examination have been enabled to
give TO the transactions in which they or
iginated.
The bill assumes that the United States
have become liable in these ancient transac-
tions TO make reparation TO the claimants
for injuries committed by France. Moth
ing was obtained for the claimants by ne.
EQUATION; and the bill assumes that the gov.
eminent has become responsible to them
for the aggressions OF France. The limit,
ed time allotted me, before your adjourn
ment, precludes the possibility OF retreating
the facts and arguments by which, ln pre-
cedlng Congress, these claims have been
successfully resisted. The present is pc.
riod peculiarly unfavorable for the satisiac-
ton Of claims OF so large an amount, and,
to say the least Of them, OF so dnubtlul a
character. There is no surplus in the treas
ury. A public debt OF several millions OF
dollars has been created within the last few
years. We are engaged in a foreign war.
uncertain in its duration, and involving
heavy expenditures; to prosecu, which,
Congress has. at its present session, author
lied further loan. So that in effect the
government, should this bill become law.
borrows money and increases the public
debt to pay these claims.
1t Is true, that by the provisions o! the
bill, payment is directed to be made in land
script instead ofmoney, but the effec, upon
the treasury will be the same. The public
lands constitute one Of the sources OF pub
lie revenue, and if these claims be paid in
land script,it will, from the date OF its issue,
to great extent, cut off from the public
lands, because payments for the lands sold
by the government may be expected to be
made in script until it is all redeemed. II
these claims be just they ought to be paid
in money, and not in anything made less val.
liable. The bill provides that they shall be