Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-15

sinia according 10 The present Cons'''u''o"'
ALBION Chase, Esq, has retired from Inc eo1.O'
ship of tina, excellent paper, The Athens (ua')
Southern Banner and is succeeded by Hopkins
Holsey, ESQ.,, formerly in Congress. Inc ADDRESS
of the new editor shows that he VIII ANY a"'
zeaIously advocate the true principles oil 'ne oon'
stituIion, which Mr. c. has SO long ana SO succeSs-
fully maintained
The New York papers are filled with descrip'
lions OF splendid new steamship, the ooulneinei'
to run as a packet between N. YORK anu Cndiie~
tonic make her first trip to-day. Win per-
feet model, magnificent saloon, comlhoa'ous
slate.rooms her machinery made enlfey VI
wrought iron al in extra cost OF several lhousahu
dollars, and fully equal 10 that OIL me Df'''sn
steamers, this fine vessel, oil beauty, sPeeu anu
comfort will present rare temptations 10 muse
who "so down in ships" II is gratifying spec
acle. 10 see The distant portions OF our vast con-
lederacy bound closely together IN interest," anu
,,el;no hv Tho links Of steam and iron and the
magic telegraph.
commend 10 those who are anxious 10 IN
ves,ieate the truth the following logical and for
For The Enquirer.
VETO OF THE FRENCH SPoLlAIloN
BILL.
By his exercise OF The veto power during Inc
last session OF Congress, Mr. Polk has establish
ed All enduring claim 10 The sralilude OF inc coun-
try. Both the billswhich he vetoed were 0PpyO-
prioiion bils-sranling large sums and enlist
ing important interests in their support. BY
arreslinp those measures, he has entitled him
self to the highest praise that can be awarded 10
public man-that he has an eye vigilant enough
10 perceive and heart sturdy enough, IN Inc lace
OF danger and ofalurement 10 discharge his duty.
The veto of the Harbor and River bill has re-
ceiyed the general sanction and support OF Inc
Democratic party. The veto oil the French Spo-
laion bill, though warmly assailed by interest
cd partes. has received less attention. propose
10 support this measure by an array OF lacts,
which will prove TO demonstration, that OF The sum
layishly voted away in that bill, not one dollar
was Justly due.
The transactions in which those spoliation
claims are founded, fill an important place in
our history. There are 10 be found, during the
period 10 which they refer, circumstances sufli-
GENTLY humiliating 10 the national pride. We
were then teeble-yet in the grise-not harden
ed into The bone OF manhood; and were compel
led Ia submit TO conduct which nor would revolt
The public sensbity. History has preserved the
recollection OF those things, and presents pic
lure which the American bushes 10 acknowledge
-iactrynlans agHOscn But now, alter The lapse
OF hall century, The attempt has almost sue
ceeded 10 heighlen The colors of that picture, and
by sort Of legislative inerlinealion upon the
history OF that time, 10 bring another accusation
against our early Government. II these claims
are due al all, they are due because The Govern
ment abandoned lis duties. And, il due al all,
Tor half century has that Government been deaf
10 the demands Of its own citizens for Justice.
Establish these claims, and you establish sweep
ing charge OF neglect of justice against every
Executive and every Congress that have been in
power since The days OF Jefferson. Ii these
claims have not usl foundation, The late bill was
as much libel upon the dead as il was burden
upon The living.
Before entering into detail of facts and rea-
sonin. which will demonstrate The futlliiy ot the
claims for indemnify wish TO remark upon a
few general facts connected with the subject,
which initiate SO strongly against them as would
seem to supersede any occasion for closer attack.
Since the Convention with France in 1900, the
indemnify claims have been precisely in the same
condition that they now are For forty years re-
ed. The statesmen who were cotemporaneous
with their origin, have either sunk 10 The grave
Withdrawn from the public councils. Under
these circumstances, does not their attempted re-
surIection come in questionable shapel do
mol mean 10 contend that government any more
Than individuals, can repuably plead lapse of
time in bar of its Just debls. But do contend
that the intervention of length OF time during
which The power Of one party 10 prosecute, and
of the other TO discharge demand, have CONT
nued unimpaired, affords fair support for the
conclusion, that that demand did not in is origin
possess Justice enough 10 enduc il with genuine
vitality Since these claims have been in exist
ence, the Federal Government has constantly de-
monstraled lis ability 10 meet It's liabilities by
dischargng heavy public debt. Why have
those claims, necessarily urged, remained unsa-
tisfed through all this period do not say that
jna debts ought not 10 be paid because they are
grown old But | will draw maxim from the
philosophy Of the human character, and say,
that Just debts are not apt 10 grow old. And
appeal 10 The experience OF every candid man for
support.
founded on lapse Of time, it derives peculiar
force from the circumstances Of this case
Where do we find those claimsl In the hands Of
parties incapaclated to prosecute lheml BY no
means Mr. TaZewell stated in the Senate Of
The United States, that the principal claimants
were Northern Insurance Companies. Does il
not occur to every one that good claim could
not sleep in such hands 7 A mercantile company
can never slumber over its money rights. Such
course would violate the mercantile character
Money is the first passion OF the merchant. lis
acquisition engages all his solicitude. The great
purpose OF his daily toll is 10 swell his balance
Sheet, and visions OF large profits float about his
sweetest slumbers. Society, pleasure, intellec-
ual culture, every Thing seems 10 yield 10 this all
| absorbing passion. O,her associations are per-
milted TO miEgle with The pursuits OF other classes
of the community. But The labors OF the mer-
| chant are exclusive. DR.. Parr once rebuked The
| concei, of pupil who boasted that he believed
| nothing that lie could not understand By telling
him that his would be the shortest creed upon re-
| cord. When we regard the merchant only in his
business transactions, we are disposed 10 think
that he has adopted the principle OF DR. PARIS
pupil, and believing only what ne understands,
subscribes very brief creed :-"Make money
save money! | say this not in disparagemenl,
for would speak of no class OF my counlrymen
in sweepine terms Of reproach. merely OBJ
serve facts equally obvious 10 others. On the
contrary, cannot but admire The vigilance, ener-
py and Intelligence with which the merchant pro-
| sccuics his profession But when see money
| claim living in such hands, unpToductve Tor hall
century, | am forced TO the conviction, thai it is
radically detective. Cerberus was once seduced
| 10 repose Bull, al least, am ignorant Of the in
gradients that should compose The medicamenl
which would lull The vigilance with which mcr-
camille company prosecules its pecuniary inter-
esis.
But there is another fact which wish TO bring
10 the public a,tention-a fact calculated TO star
lie apprehension. II was stated in The House Of
Representatives, fifteen years ago, by Mr. How
ard OF Maryland, that the management OF large
portion OF these claims had been committed
10 SINGLE agent, "who represented nne-tenlhs, or
perhaps more Of the whole amount OF claims
thus depending" The amount of those claims
has never, believe, been estimated at less than
five millions of dollars. What an astounding
influence might that agent bring TO bear upon the
Government These scattered claims have been
combined, and their whole concentrated influence
placed under The control of single individual.
Five millions Of dollars arc sought al the hands Of
Government by one individual and upon pri-
raic claim-a matter about which, according to
NJ nnn hoe r,1hf -