Democratic banner., 1846-09-14
VETO MESSAGE OF MR.. POLK Of
THE FRENCiISpOLIATlON BILL.
Ia Tie !Senat. # III: Unled States;

for the aScertaiumsnt and satisfaction Of
claims of American citizens Tor spoliation>
lcommittcd by the French prior TO tie BIS;
If July, 1901" which WAS presented tC
me on the 9th inst, with my objections to
its becoming a law.
In attempting to give The Bill the careful
examination it requires, difficulties present
ed themselves iii the out set, from the re-
notcncss OF the period to which the claims
t~be!ong. the complicated nature of the trans
c ions in which they originated, and tn
pro,ractrd negotiations TO which they !CL
lctw, en- France and the United States.
The sirrt tine inter- cning between Tie
passage "i the bill by Congress and the aI',
preaching close OF their session, Us well as
the pressure of other official duties. iav,
not permitted me to extend my examination:
oi the ~%uDicct into its minute details Blu;
in the consideration that | Lave been aD!c
to give to it. | find objections OF ii grave
character 10 lis provisions.
For the satisfaction oil TIE claims pr0vi-
Ied for it. is proposed TO appropriate five
millions Of d%uiiaIS. | can perceive no le-
gai or equitable ground upon which this
"a ~ uiI'l " 4AllOlI a > - " - liO
I%ciLl:aS nave been more than half a century
before TIE CiDveTnmet. III lis E~executivc Oh
legislative iep1 rtmen!S, and all of them EaG
hc!r origin III events which occurred priOI
70 1850. Since 1862 they nave been from
,i.ae totimc before Congress; No greater
necessity or ,roprictv casts 10: providing
FOR these clai rs ut this time than has cAiS-
It"d Tor near a halt a century; daring ii.
wl.ic:l periods TINS unQicStirnAhlc measure
AS never until IT," pEcScHt trmc rcc,itCG
,iir ii:nrahir consideration OF Congress-.
It Is scarcely rr,ba5I>i il tie cla:m had been
regarded IS obligatory upon the Govern
'i!rnt. or constituting AL equitable demand
t!Hpn the frr>uTr.lilat those who were con-
;cE!, ,ra"r"E VII. Ike events winch gave
RISE 20 J., S.:"li.i :" long >Incr have dcnc
j.ir:;ceta,'" claimants. IHu Treasury HIS
J!tcu been in 4 sund:;ion To- enable ii,c Go.
"rh:!'at - da ~ wItIOI, Inconvenience.
{. IL" claims la! been considered ii>L.
Il. Jut"r<n" who was ti,iS "3gu:L,!t %.
;tc early dss:n:tru; be;wecnt.e G'v>ra-
..cntS tt.r | 5. and rance. r'it OF WINCH;
- claims arr q. iii his annual MESSAGE i"
ISL: ah.r!tci !, iac large surplus t:Ich i'll
:ha Treasury and is "~probHbls accuH;ita-
finn,'' ..ii cnGu!rcd w~iirt!,cI it si.os;iC :!c
~:nI.r3dnctiyc liz t:t %i,uirlic ~i"tits, and yet
.!,rsc claims tl!o"yl, ticn b"lrre Congress
were not recognized or paid. Since that
INC ,,HbI!c d"ht cf ihc revolution and Oi the
re-, o~Iutiom ana Of tie war Of ISL has Uccn
extin.uis.Icd, and at several periods since.
lie Treasury h!S been i'll possession OF large
,,n, ,. n e., u, ,-nntS u.n.p Ia
IH-6 tie s.rp iHS 3ILoumtcd to many millions
Of dollars, aud Tor wan. oil pronrr objects to,
which, 10 ail,iy il. it WAS directed lay iGr-
srcss TO h" deposited with lie States.
During ,his extended course ~CI;:M.c; M
Tracing periods cnincntlv favorable iur sat
all just demands upon the Govern
,ncnt, the claims embraced i'll tbs bill met
9TH no favor in Congress, beyond the re
aurts Of Committees, in one or the other
Branch. These circumstances alone are
to raise strong doubts i'll res
Spcct to these claims: and especially. as al!
necessary to 4 correct Judge
mcnt concerning them, has been long be-
lore the public. These doubts arc strength
eHud in NV mInG by tie examination | have
nave enabled TO give TO the transaction III
they originated.
The bill assumes that lie United States
have become liable in these transactions to
make PREPARATION to the claimaLtsio for IL ,r.rics
committed by ancient france Nothing
was obtained for claimants by negotiations;
and the bill assumes that the Government
has become many ways Responsible for.
claims. The limited time allowed me
Your adjournment, makes it IMPOSE
bic to rcitcratc the facts and arguments by
in preceding Congresses, these
claims have been successfully resisted. The
present is a period particularly unfavorablc.
for the satisfaction of claims OF SO large an
amount, and, to say the least ofthcm, of so
doubtful a character. There is no surPl 3.
the Treasury. Apublic debt ol several
millions has been created within the few
years. We engaged in a foreign war, un-
as to its duration, and involving
heavy expenditures; to prosecute which war
Congress has, at its present session, author
lied a further loan. So that i'll effect the
Government, should tits Bill become a law
would have to borrow money AMI increase
the public debt to pay these claims. 1t is
true, that by the provisions ofthc Bill, pay