Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-12

IN SENATE.

r
inundated region in the southeast par d Missouri and 1s
northeast part of Arkansas TIE Genel As-smky 4aes
that the public lands for sir miles each sids q he
plated canal, (the New Madrid and soIar cana comg~-
N.Y. in the counties Of New Madrid and siodJsS mag ~
donated by Congress TO said canal company whls
ierred TO the Committee on Public Lands.
JEWELS OF THE PRINCE or oRAsgE.
Mr. CLAY. | hold in my hand and have b.sn I.qossl-
ed to present to the Senate, the petition q Wa ssy,
of the city of New York.
Some twenty years ago the Prince and Princess 81 Ogsnxs
lost from the palace in Brussels belonging che Gcsssa-
ment of Belgium, large value Of Jewels AID
some of the personal jewels Of the princess No fo
long time could be discovered Of the thief but, u length,
conjecture led to the belief that he had fed 10 the United
States and the Government Of Holland represented that
time by the Chevaier dHuygens applied the Goye1msDs
of the United States for assistance recovering the asi pro-
pery of the and in obtaining possession Of the e1l
Prit The Government of the United States accordingly
gave instructions to its public officers TO render any azncs
they might be able in recovering the property which had been
lost amounting in value 10 upwards Of million ~ doasI
Some traces of the thief discovered In New York and
at this stage of the business Mr. Seeley professional gen
temana lawyer of emnence, engaged in lucrative prac-
ce affordng him annually twelve thousand dol
ars-was applied to to aid in recovering this lost proy
Mr. seaey abandoned the pursuit Of bis profession and
engaged in that object He dedicated nearly three years Of
his life to its accomplishment The result the recovery
Of almost all the jewels the detection and Of the thief
and he was by other sent back TO Europe
The subject became great interest 10 the Prince aud
Princess OF Orange in consequence Of limitations having
been made the prejudice of the Prince dare say without
foundation He was known to be in embarrassed crcurn
stances at the time, and the inmaton made that he had
puroined the jewels of which he in pursuit init
nation, according to the result wholly unfounded Mr..
Seey however, employed his utmost exerons 10 succeed
in the engagement into which he had entered Well sir,
the jewels restored, remarked, and the cuprt
ed. and from that time to this this gentleman has been in
vain endeavong to obtain from the Government OF Holland,
adequate indemnity for the services nd allow add,
the success which attended his exerons The aid Of the
Executive of this Government having beea invoked in the
first instance for the recovery of this properly Mr. Seeiey
first applied to them. Application made 10 Holland but
they unwilling make what he deemed to be ade-
quate compensation, refer the matc to arbitration
to ascertain what would be just amount Of compensa
ton In this of the business he has again appealed 10
the Executive of this Government We owe in consequence
of the assumption of the debt due from portion OF the Dis
tct of Columba-either Washington city, or perhaps
Georgetown am not certain whch-alage debt to Holland,
for the interest OF which appropriations annually made II
the general appropriation BILL has been suggested to Mr.
Seeley and it that has been recommended by the
late as well the present Secretary OF State that he should
apply to Congress that they should investigate the and
that IT they satisfied of its justice, since he cannot OBJ
tain what he ought 10 receive from the foreign Government,
as we have the means Of his indemnity within hands,
we should withhold sum sufficient satisfy his Just claim
Mr. Seeiey has presented the petition which hold in my
hand, containing most ample full, and satisfactory
tive of the case from the beginning 10 the end and has or
he'd his application by appeal to satisfactory
authorities show that in similar the Government Of
country of which the petitioner is subject citizen, will
apply all the means in its power that justice is done,
although the general rule that when contracts with
foreign Government he depend the good faith Of
that Government for the satisfaction of his claims but there
exceptions to the general rule of which this appears to
me to be one This petition ought properly to 60 to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs; but, the Committee
of Finance has the subject of appropriations before hem it
has been suggested that the subject embraced in this petition
should be referred that committee Imove that the reading
OF the petition be dispensed with and that be referred tho
Committee of Finance and ask also that this petition be
printed 1t Is long and vouminous, but it will be found To
be highly interesting. move that be referred to the Com
mttee on Printing. >.- >*~
Mr.. KING AS this petition not to be referred to the
Committee Foreign Affairs, / will say but few words.
do not know in the history of our Government Of solitary
where individual has contracted with foreign Gov
fer any purpose whatever and has Congress
to procure indemnity for loss by such contract.
derstand this very WELL This individual Mr. Seeley,
employed his instance TO hunt and ascertain,
possible, who the purloiner of the jewels OF
Holland. very great interest felt the subject, be-
intma;ed that the Prince Of Holland had him
self purloned them and gambled them away.
This individual expecting to receive doubt large
he successful in securing the thief and the jewels here
devoted himself entirely for long time to that object and
in part successful The thief found, and
Holland and punished captay there This individual,
then, in pursuance Of his contract and not having stipulated
for particular amount, went to Holland to get the COM
pensaton which he supposed liberal Government and
grateful Prince would afford for the services rendered He
offered ptfu sum, which he declined In this state OF
the Government instructed the charge to make
strong representations possible the justice equity and
good faith of Holland to induce them to make proper
pensaton The effort failed and the honorable Sena-
from Kentucky introduces memorial, to do what To
take from the Government OF Holland but the
money Of private individuals who have loaned it good
faith and with just anticipation of receiving the interest
upon it, pay debt, if you please, of Holland make
these that the Senate know the state Of
the
| NJ CLAY l have doubt that the Senator from Al
ALBANIA (Mr KIse has laid down the general principles Of
this law of nations correctly that to say individual
chooses conde in the faith Of foreign Government, and
make contract with them he is bound, general rule
look to the honor and good faith of that Government for
the ument of that contract stated that to be the princ
pie myself when up before But there may be, and
almost every rule Of law whether this is not,
is the to be investigated think my friend from
Alabama when he look the array Of authori
ties cited in this petition will be disposed think that
in this the exception ought to be made. IT. The
Senator alleges the debt is due to private subjects Of
Holland, why perhaps, il would not be right to take their
property to satisfy this claim but inclined TO believe
that portion of the debt belongs to the Government Of Ho
land At all events it is matter fit to be investigated. As
Stunning that it does there be doubt that Of this
kind might exist and that should with favorable
sderaion! Suppose the Government Of Holland had any
property in the United States debts due it, that could be-
reached by attachment process of law, think there
be question that Mr. Seeley would have the right to
into of law and attach such property and
payment of his demand and thus transfer the question Of
what due to him from the Government Of Holland the
tribunals of bis country. But, inasmuch there is
appropriation annually made pay the interest this public
debt, this private debit do no, know how is and IS
matter to be investigated by the commtteehe cannot
to the process of attachment since the Governments Oh
the United States be made party any such suit
1t is for this reason and in the belief that portion of the debt