American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-11
VETO MESSAGE ON THE FRENCH
SPOLIATION BILL.
enaLe Of Lhe United Sta!ts:

10 the Senate of the United States:
i | return 10 the Senate, in which il origina-
ed, the Bill entitled Gan act to provide for the
4 scertainment and satisfaction of claims of
american citizens for spoliatiOns committed
4y the French prior to the 3lst of July, 1901, :"
Which was presented to me on the 9th instant,
gith my objections to its becoming law.
In attempting to give the Bill the careful
Examination it requires, difficulties presented
themselves in the outset, from the remoteness
4 f The period to which the claims belong, the
Complicated nature Of the transactions in
shich they originated, and the protracted me-
otiations to which they led between France
. nd the United States. The short time in
ervening between the passage of the bill by
Congress and the approaching close of their
es ion, as well as the pressure of other Off
ial duties, have not permitted me to extend
Inv examination Of the subject into its minute
"details But in the consideration that have
been able to give TO it, find objections OF a
grave character to lis provisions.
Fer the satisfaction of the claims provided
for it, is proposed 10 approl rate five millions
|pf dollars. can perceive no legal or equita-
|oIe ground upon which this large appreciation
ban rest A portion Of the claims have been
more han haf cen fury before the govern
|ment, in its Executive or legislative depart
.ments, and all of them had their origin in e.
vents which occurred prior to 1900. Since
1902 they have been from time to time before
Congress. No greater necessity or propriety
exists for providing for these claims at this
/ ime than has existed for near half century;
during all which period this questionable mea-
Sure has never until the present time receiv'
led the favorable conside ration of Congress-
lit is scarcely probable, if The claim had been
Regarded as obligatory upon the Government,
Tor constituting an equitable demand upon the
Treasury, that those who were contemporaries
Gus with the events which gave rise to it,
should not long since have done justice to the
claimants The Treasury has often been in
condition to enable the Government to do so
without inconvenience, if the claims had been
considered just. Mr. J, fferson who was fully
cognizant of the early dissentons between the
Government Of the U. States and France, out
of which the claims arose, in his annual mes
sage in 1903 adverted to the large surplus then
in the Treasury, and IFS "probable accumula-
Ion," and inquired whether ii should lie Sun
productive in the public vaults" and yet these
claims though then before Congress were not
recognised or paid. Since that, the public
debt of the revolution and of the war Of 1912
has been eXtnguIshed, and al several periods
since, the Treasury has been in possession Of
large surplusses over the demands uponlt-
In 1886 the surplus amounted to many mil
lions of dollars, and for want of proper ohjects
10 which to apply twas directed by Congress
10 be deposited with the States.
During this extended course of time, en-
>bracing periods eminently favorable for salts
flying all just demands upon the Government
the claims embraced in this bill met with nc
favor in Congress, beyond the Reports OF
Committees, in one Or the other Branch -
These circumstances alone are ca culated tc
raise strong doubts in respect to these claims
especially, as all information necessary to 9
correct Judgment concerning them, has beer
long before the public. These doubts are
strengthened in my mind by the examina ioI
have been enabled TO give to the transaction
in which they originated
The bill assumes that the United State
have become liable 10 those ancient transac
tons to make reparation to the claimants 70
injuries committed by France. Nothing wa
obtained for claimants by negotiation; and tn
bill assumes that the Government has becom
many ways responsible for these claims. Tn