The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-14
POLITICAL.
From the Richmond Enquirer,
VETO OF THE FRENCH ISOLATION BILL

VET0OFT THE FRENCH ISOLATION BILL.
By his exercise Of the veto power during the last
session Of Congress, Mr.. Polk has established an
enduring claim to the gratitude OF the country. Both
the bills which he vetoed appropriation bills
granting large sums and enlisting important inter-
ests in their support. BY anesting those measures,
he has entitled himself 70 the highest praise that
be awarded 10 a public man-that he has an eye
Viglant enough TO perceive, and heart sturdy
enough, in the face Of danger and of aurement, to
discharge his duty. The veto OF the harbor and
river bill has received the general sanction and sup
port Of the democratic party. The veto of the
French spollation BILL though warmly assailed by
interested parties, has received less attention.
propose 70 support this measure by an array Of
facts which will prove to demonstration, that Of the
sum lsylshly voted away in that bill not one dollar
was Justly due.
The transactions in which those spolistion claims
are founded, I'LL an important place in our history
There are TO be found during the period to which
they refer circumstances sufficiently Illuminating TO
the national pride. We were then feeble-yet in
the gristle-not hardened into the bone OF man
hood; and were compelled to submit 10 conduct
which nO0 would revolt the public sensblity. His
tory has preserved the recollection Of those things
and presents picture which the American bushes
10 nowedge-laehrynans agnOsei But now, af-
the lapse of half century, the attempt has al
most succeeded 20 heighten the coors Of that pic
ture, and, by sort oflegslatve interlineaton upon
the history Of that time, To bring another accusation
against our early government. II these claims are
due at all, they are due because the government
abandoned its duties. And, if due at all for half
century has that government been deaf to the de-
Inands Of It's own citizens for justice. Establish
these claims, and you establish sweeping charge
of neglect Of justice against every executive and
every Congress that have been In power since the
days Of Jefferson. If these claims have not just
foundation, the late bill was much libel upon
the dead as it was burden upon the living.
Infa afaH If facts and nlRK
which will demonstrate the futility Of the claims for
indemnity, | 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 in
demnity claims have been precisely in the same
condition that they now For forty years re-
peated efforts to establish them have been defeated
The statesmen who were eotemporaneous with their
origin, have either sunk TO the grave or Withdrawn
from the public councils. Under these circum-
stances does not their attempted resurrection come
in questionable shape | do not mean to contend
that government, any more than individuals, can
reputably plead lapse Of time in bar Of its just debts
But do contend, that the Intervention of length Of
time during which the power Of one party to prose
cute and of the other to discharge a demand, have
continued unimpaired affords fair support for the
conclusion that that demand did not in its origin
possess justice enough TO endue 1t with a genuine
vitality Since these claims have been in existence,
the federal government has constantly demonstrated
its ability to meet its liabilities by dscharging hea-
Wy public debt. Why have those claims, intssantly
urged, remained unsatshed through all this period
do not say that Just debts ought to be paid be.
cause they are grown old. But will draw a max
i'm from the philosophy Of the human character and
say, that just debts are not apt to grow old And
appeal to the experience Of every candid man for
support. .-, ,,
ed lapse of time, derives peculiar force from the
circumstances OF this case. Where do we find
those caims' In the hands Of parties ncapacitated
10 prosecute them' BY no meansl Mr.. Tazewel
stated in the Senate of the United States, that the
principal claimants northern insurance compa-
MES. Does It not occur TO every one that good
claim could not sleep in such hands, A mercantile
company can never sumber over its money rights
Such course would violate the mercantile character.
Money is the first passion of the merchant. Its
acquisition engages all his solictude. The great
purpose of his daily toll is to swell his balance
sheet, AID visions Of large profits float about his
sweetest slumbers. Society, pleasure intellectual
culture, everything seems to yield to this alabsorb
ing passion. Other associations permitted to
mingle with the pursuits Of other classes of the
community; hut the labors of the merchant are ex-
elusive. Dr.. Parr once rebuked the conceit of
pupil who boosted that he believed nothing that he
could not understand, by telling him that his would
be the shortest creed upon record. When we regard
the merchant only in his business transactions, we
are disposed think that he has adopted the prnci
pie of DR.. Parf'spup and believing only what he
understands, subscribes a very brief creed: "Make
money-save money" ] say this not in disparage-
ment, for | would speak of no class of my country
men in sweeping terms Of reproach. | merely OBJ
serve facts equally obvious to others. On the con-
trary, cannot but admire the vigilance, energy, and
intelligence with which the merchant prosecutes his
profession. But when see money claim lying in
such hands, unproductve for half century, am
forced the conviction that it is radically defective
Cerberus was once seduced to repose. But !, at
least, am ignorant of the ingredients that should
compose the medicament which would ull the vig-
lance with which mercantile company prosecutes
its pecunary interests.
But there is another fact which wish to bring TO
the public attention-a fact calculated to starte APP
prehension. 1t was stated in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, fifteen years ago, by Mr.. Howard, OF
Maryland, that the management of a large portion
of these claims had been committed to single
agent, 'who represented nne-tenths, or perhaps
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 scatter
ed claims have been combined, and their whole con-
centrated influence placed under the control of sim
gle individual. Five millions of dollars are sought
at the hands of government by one individual, and
upon private clam--a matter about which, nc.
cordng to Mr.. Clayton, of Delaware no one has
one of the committees in Congress. What fund
what an opportunity for influence! Five mil.
lions Of dollars is large sum of money. The
government at BEST is administered by men-and
unless human nature has changed since the days of
Julius Cesar we have high authority for the belief
that men can always be had for money. II was a
novel circumstance that member should rise in his
place and read to the Senate of the United States
just the vote the vetoed bill was to be taken
the rule which forbds senator to vote where his
interests are enlisted The inquiry will suggest it.
self to every one-would not this immense influence
have carried just claim through long since'
When we proceed to minuter examination of
the subject, will find that these general differences
not erroneous. The case of the claimants az il
presents itself to my mind, is entirely destitute of
foundation. But that the reader may decide for
himself, shall endeavor to possess him of all the
facts necessary to a correct understanding of the
subject.
In the winter Of 1893, the war between France
and England broke out. 1t was to Of
manifold embarrassment. Peace, always our poll
cy, then matter of high necessity. Circum-
stances, familiar to every one acquainted with our