Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-14
TIE PRESIDENTS SECOND VETO.


To ttc Senate nj The United Stales:
return 10 he Senate, in which it originated, the
Bill entitled ar act to provide for the ascertain.
ment and satisfaction OF claims ui American cili
zeDs for spoaions committed By the French pri.
or 10 the 3ls o! July 1901, )" which was presented
10 me OH The 9Th instant, with my objections 10 lis
becoming law.
In attempting 10 give The Bill The careful exam
ination il requires, difficulties presented them
selves in The oulsci from the remoieness Of the pc
ricd 10 which The ella inns belong, the complicated
nature Of the transactions in which they origina-
ted, and The proiracted negotiations 10 which they
led between France and The United States. The
short time intervening between The passage OF the
bill by Congress and The approaching close 0!
their session, as well as The pressure Of other Off
cal duties. have not permitted me TO extend my
examination Of the subject into its minnie details.
Bat in the consideration that have been able 10
give 10 il, | find objections Of grave character
10 lis provisions
For The satisfaction of the claims provided Tor,
il is proposed 10 appropriate five millions Of dol
lars. can perceive no legal or equitable ground
upon which this large appropriation canre A
portion ol the claims have been more than hall
century before The government, in lis Executive
or Legislative departments and all OF them had
their origin in events which occurred prior 10
1900. Since 1902 they have been iirm time 10
time before Congress. No greater necessity or
propriely exists for providing Tor these claims al
this time than has existed for near halt century !;
during all which period this questionable mea.
sure has never until the present time received the
favorable consideration OF Congress II is scarce
" probable, if The claim had been regarded as OBJ
lisatory upon the Government, or constituting an
equitable demand upon the Treasury, that those
who were conlemporaneous with The events which
gave rise 10 it, should not long since have done
Justice 10 The claimants. The Treasury has Of
len been in condition to enable the Government!
10 10 so without Inconvenience, il the claims bad
been considered just. Mr. Jefferson who was fully
cosnizant oil the early dissentons between the
Government OF The U. States and France, Out 81
which the claim arose, in his annual message in
1903 adverlcd 10 The large surplus then in the
Treasury, and It's " probable accumulation, and
inquired whether it should lie "unprodnciivc in
the public vaults" and yet these claims though
then before Congress were not recognized or paid
Since that, the public debt OF the revolution and
of The war Of 1872 has been extingniShed, and al
several periods since, the Treasury has been IN
possession OF large surplusses over the demands
upon it, In 1886 the surplus amounted to many
millions OF dollars, and for want OF proper objects
10 which to apply it, it was directed BY Congress
10 b. deposited with The States.
During this extended course Of time, enlbra-
cling periods emineu;ly favorable for satisfying all
Jus, demands upon Inc Government, the claims
embraced is this bill met with no favor in Con-
gress beyond the Reports of Committees, in one
or The other branch. These circumstances alone
are calculated TO raise strong doubts in respect to
these claims; and especially, as all information
necessary 10 a correc, judgement concerning them,
has been long before the public. These doubts
are strengthened 10 my mind by The examination
have been enabled 10 give 10 the transaction 10
which they originated.
The bill assumes that the United States have
become liable in those ancient transactions to
make reparation to the claimants for injuries
committed by France. Nothing was obtained
for claimants BY negotiation; and The bill assumes
that tic Government, has become many ways re-
sponsible for these claims TIE limited time al
lowed me before yocr adjournment, makes II i'm
possible 10 reileraie The facts and arguments oy
ahich, in preceding Congresses. these claims
have been successfully resisted. The present Is
a period particularly unfavorable for the saiis-
faction Of claims Of so large an amount, and, 10
say The eas, Of hem. OF so doubtful character
There is no surplu, Ia the Treasury A public