The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-08-29
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
AUGUST 20, is4s.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT,
FRENCH SPOLIATlONS.

ItlNiU W lllE lh " "
rgnsted, the Bill entitled an oct 10 pro-
vide for the sscerlsinment and sstisfse-
tien OF claims of American cliizens for
spolisIions committed by The French
prior 10 the slsl OF IDLY, 1901 which
was presented 10 me on the 6'h ils'snt,
with my objections 10 lie becoming
law.
In attempting 70 give the bill The care.
ful examination 1t requires, difficulties
presented themselves in the outset IRON
the remo'eness Of the period TO which
the claims belong he complicated nature
Of be Transaction in which they rigina-
ted, AID the prol;acled negotiations to
winch hey led Between France and the
Lnts. 6 Ies I he short time inter
vebi-g 1e'~soo The passage Of the bill
ay CO neresS std he approaching close
recession, os we'll as the pressure
er official duties, have not permit
"a Ce % extend my examination Of the
-suu .,et into lis minute details. But in
the consideration that have been able
to give 10 ii, find objections Of grave
character 10 lis provisions.
For the ostisisclion of lhe claims pro.
vided Tor il, is proposed 10 appropriate
five millions of dollars.-I can perceive
no legal or equitable ground upon which
this large appropriation can rest. A por-
ton Of The claims have been more than
halt a century before the eoverpmen,,In
its Executive or legislative departments,
and II of them had their origin 10 e..
vents which occurred prior TO 1900
Since 1900, they have been from time
10 Iime before Congress. No greater
necessity or propriety exists for provid.
ing for the CLAIMS at this time than has
existed for near half a century; during
oil which peiod this questionable meas
ure has never until The present time re
coivsd The r,vorabIe consideration Of
Congress. 1t is scarcely probable,if the
claim had been regarded as obligatory
upon be Government, or constituting
an equitable demand upon The Treasury
that those who were -coHtempoFsneous
with the events which gave rise to it,
should not long snce have done Justice
10 the claimants. The Treasury has Of
ten been ina condition 10 eoable lheGov
ernmtnt 10 do SO wihou, inconvenience
If The claims had been considered Just,
Mrs. Jefferson who was fully cosnizant
Of the early dssention between lheGov,
ernment Of The Uc,ed States andFrsnc-
out ol which the claims arose, 10 his an.
nual message in 1903 sdvered to the
large surplus then in The Treasury, gud
lie probable saumulaIior,' and inquired
whether II should be 'unproduetiys int
ihe public vaulls,' and yet these caims
;hcugh then before Congress were not,
recognized or paid Since thst Umt,
the public debt of the revolution snd 81
The war OF 1919 has been exlinguished,
and OF several periods since, the 'Hreasu
ry has been in possession oil large sur.
plusses over the demands upon il. ln
1886, the surplus amounted 10 many
millions Of dolIars,and for want Of prop
er objects 10 which 10 apply it it was di,
re:led by Congress to be deposited with
me States.
Dnring this extended course OF time,
embracing periods eniuenlIy favorable
Tor satisfying all jus, demands upon the
government, the claims embraced in
this bill met with no favor in Congress,
beyond the reports of committees, 10
one or the other branch. These cir.
. cumstances alone are calculated 10 raise
slTong doubts in respect 10 these claims,
d and especially, as all information neces.
ssTy To- correct judgment cocerning
them, has been long before the public.
These doubts are strengthened in my
mind by The examination ! have been
enabled TO give 10 the transaction 10
which they originated.