The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-04

General Washington II the United States were
bound by that guarantee, as is commended by those
who sustain these claims, General Washington wa'
guilty OF the highest perhdy ever committed-of the
basest ingratltude; for Washington himself, on the
fullest and most mature reflection, held that the UNI
ted States were not bound by the guarantee, and he
issued his proclamation of neutrality at the tune
OF the war with France and Great Britain lie
| dad this upon the argument of General Hamilton
that the United States were not bound TO take par
In that war; for not taking part in which these dam
ages are said to have accrued TO France.
/ But further, the treaty repealed-repeaed be-
cause of violations Of it by France, and declared
by act Of CongTess-voted for by list of names Of
| high authority, and approved by the elder Adams
who would have been little likely to be guilty OF an
act Of gross injustice TO foreign nation
| His time was rapidly passing away, that he
must content himself with saying on the general
merits OF the billlst, that the United States never
received dollar Of benefit by the rellnquishment
OF these calms and next, that the United States did
not give up anything at all in ceasing to negotiate
about them. This he could prove by the state
ment Of our own minister, MIR. Murray, who was on
| the spot, and was capable of Judging any
man, who declared al one time that they were not
worth Az per cent, and again, subsequently, that
| they were utterly worthless; and this in 1900 and
1901 just before the treaty was negotiated. And
yet II was said that these caims-to collect which
tho United States had incurred heavy expenses, IN
volyed itself IN public debt, and issued letters OF
| maTqne and reprisal-that these claims, thus hope
| less, we're the consideration on which the United
States desired release from the treaty, and right 10
| neSlahty 1t was such thing.
But il was said that The United States offered
money, something like $780, 900, to get rid of this
guarantee. He wished 1t 10 be recollected, howev-
er, that the treaty repealed by forfeiture on the
part OF France, after this offer made The in
| structons Of Mr. Madison 10 our minister, 10 urge
these claims relied In proof Of their validity
| But who ever before heard that argument thus
given, TO be used to foreign government, was to be
| made the foundation OF claim against the United
States
But 1t was said that these claims had been passed
upon fayoraby by repeated committees Of Congress.
| Upon examination, he had asceTtalned that out OF
Iwenty-one reports, nine Of them were from select
committees. These, of course, were formed Of mem
bers favorable 10 the claims And Of the select
committees, he found that in two instances two re-
ports had been made by the same man. and OF tho
reports from the standing committee-rhe Commit
| Tee on Foreign Relauons-threo were by Mr. Ever
| EFT, three by Mr.. Cushing, and four by Mr..
Choate. Here, then were the same COMMITTEES
the same ndivduals-reportng, and yet II was held
up that there had been twenty-one different reports
IN their favor. In almost every instance also there
were a majority Of the members Of these com
mittees from the States most largely interested in
these claims. He had not the slightest intention to
| lmpugn the integrity Of these committees, nor Of
gentlemen who supported the bill; but he ventured
y, III
Gus districts, and thereby set Of men set to work
to operate upon public opinion, they ud not have
received fifty votes In this House.
IL had been stated TO him by the gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. KING, that he was IN error IN
saying that the bulk of these claims were held by
If surance companies, and that those who org-
nally held them had all failed. He had spoken on
the authority Of various speeches, and of report
made on the subject, few years ago, which gave
eighteen insurance companies holding them; and 1t
was fairly presumabe that they held muck the
greater bulk. But If they had failed 1t did alter
the case. Their assignees, or those who had pur-
chased their assets, held them; and it would be
rous piece Of inquiry and well worthy OF considera-
ton when engaged IN the inquiry, whether this gov
| eminent was bound in equity to pay them'
1t was said a monopoly Of land would not follow
the enactment Of this law because scrip was to be
issued; that il would constitute what Familiarity
called lsnd-offce money, and be bought up by those
who purchase lands; and, therefore, that there will
be no monopoly Of them. Now the experience Of
the west was contrary to that, and 1t showed that
the facility with which those who held the scrip or
purchased it could acquire land, would tend to make
monopoly, while, at the same time, II would alb
sorb the revenue from the sales OF the lands There
was, thsn, this doaLls ebjsstsn a. Ard tiris
would take place after had authorized the issue
of ten million dollars Of treasury notes. He blamed
nobody for his vote for that BILL he himself had sup
ported it, which he would not have done in time OF
peace. But in addition to this ten million dollars,
we were now about to put five million dollars cur
rency based on the public lands, into circulation.
Why, what II paper money government we should
have il we passed this bill; we should not have
dollar revenue accruing from the lands
Mr.. T 3 hour here expired.
Mr.. McCLELLAND rose TO propose an amend
ment to the BILL but before offering it he submitted
some remarks explanatory of that part which might
not be understood, and traced its analogy TO the
principle Of the bill under consideration. lie SAID
IL. ,la
out Of the last war between Great Britain and this
country, and were for compensation for the depreda-
tons committed by the British and Indians on the
citizens Of Michigan, coptrary to the conditions OF
the captuations made with General Brock and Col
onel Proctor. They had been repeatedly presented
TO Congress for its action; and although some OF the
claimants had obtained partial redress, yet many of
them had invariably been denied that justice to
which they were pre-emnently entitled. The action
of the House in regard to private claimants remind
ed him forcibly of what Burleigh used to say to
Queen Elizabeth: "Madam, you do well to let suit
ors stay, for tell you, bis dat q cito dot (he gives
twice who gives quicklyi) if you grant them speed
lily they will come again the sooner" Although he
was willing to admit that some unjust claims received
the sanction Of the House, yet this ought not to be
| assigned a reason for the gross injustice which
was done to those of a meritorious character
| citizen was injured and aggrieved by breach of con-
tract otherwise on the part Of the government,
and came to press his claim before Congress, and
found by sad and bitter experience that the delay in
administering justice, the expense, anxiety, and dis
appointment incident to its prosecution, were far
greater than the amount finally received. This state
Of things should not exist in free government, but
he deeply regretted to be compelled to cay that he
cav no symptom here Of returning sense OF JUS
tlce.
| The senator from Delaware, Mr. CLArroN,l in
his elaborate speech upon this bill stated the grounds
| on which he rested these French spoauon claims to
be, that they were, on the 30h of September, 1900,
(by the convention of that date, renowned, or re-
leased, sold and sacrificed by this government, TO
purchase It's exemption from the treaties Of l77s,
and the consular convention Of 1888; and also to
| purchase exemption from further spoliatons on
our commerce. to secure TO this nation the
| blessings Of peace and all the other benefits that
4 were derived to the nation from that convention.
| He must not be understood as admitting that
Mr. Clayton had proved these propositions to
his satisfaction, but would admit them to be true
| for the sake of the argument.
| Mr.. McC. then stated that he would give briei
and succnct history of the claims covered by his
| tn enable the committee q nudge OF