New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-01
French Spoliation Claims-Report Of the Com
mittee of Foreign Affairs.


French spoliation Claims-Report of the Com
mittee of Foreign Affairs.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Friday, May 81.
The Telegraph informed your readers, some days
ago, of the fact of the House Committee Of Foreign
Affairs having agreed upon & favorable report on
French Spoliations. l am glad to be able to state
that it is now ready and that it will be presented
soon, probably on Wednesday hext. 1t is from the
pen of Hon. ALEXANDER w. BUEL of Michigan,
whose former papers, including that upon the st.
Lawrence question, have stamped him a man Of
logical ability.
This report is not lengthy. 1t refers, for the de-
tails to the report made, many years ago, to tho
Senate by Mr. LIVINGSTON. The points Of it's ar
guments are as familiar to welinformed readers as
are the historical facts, but will briefly state the
latter.
Prior to the year 1900, there were not less than
a thousand American vessels and cargoes sub
jected to spoation, at the hand of the French Ma
tion destroying property to the value OF at least
ten millions of dollars. When our Government
esented the claims to the Government OF France,
counter claims were presented against our Gov
eminent, based on our neglect to comply with the
Treaty Of l77s, in which we stipulated to protect
her in her American possessions-in other words,
to become the ally of France in her contests with
Great Britain. But, notwithstanding we had re-
ceived such important aid in our Revolutionary
struggle, Gen. WAsHINGTOS's proclamation OF
neutrality forbade the reciprocity stipulated for.
Here was the basis of the counter claim
The Convention of 1900 took the question Of mu-
tual Indebtedness in hand and concluded an agree
ment 10 offset the one against the other. Oar Gov
eminent having thus made summary disposition of
the private claims of American citizens, stepped in
between them and their National debtor, and be-
came fairly liable in equity, if not in law for every
dollar of these claims. 1t was a clear aSSumpst.
France being released by the Convention of 1900,
the United States alone became obligated 10 her
stead to pay every dollar OF the claims, and she
should foot the bill accordingly Such is the conc.
sion to which the Report has arrived; and do not
see how our Government can escape from the i'm.
piled obligation OF contract to satisfy the claims
The bill recommended by the Committee Of
Foreign Affairs, is the same as that vetoed by
President Polk in 1916, with the exception that
that proposed TO liqudate with lands, this with
money.
The history of the legislation on the subject of
these spoliations is gloomily illustrative Of our
hurry. scury, heels system of Congress
sonal doing and undoing Nearly every Congress
since 1902 has had the question before it. There
never was an unfsvorabe vote upon it. A bill
passed the Senate twice, and both Houses once
in ls46-then so "tacked by other matters, as to
help to an excuse for veto. Everybody has agree
ed that the claimants ougk to be pad and get they
hare not receired the first dOar-no not the poorest
orphaned expectant among the vast multitude
thereof!
The bill accompanying Mr.. BUEL's report pro-
poses FIVE millions of dollars The sum may seem
startling, until we come to look at the circum-
stances. But why sickle about five millions OF
dollars to be distributed among bona fde claimants,
while we have allowed near a quarter of a mil
lion to be appropriated to single claim and that
questionable to more credulous and indulgent
minds, while deemed utterly foundationless by
many others 7 How can we hesitate. in honor and
decency Surely we cannot. And yet | fear
that this crying matter will be again pushed aside
in the hubbub and hurry Of the present session.
That there is a clear ma ority ready to record their
votes in favor of payment, have no doubt, with
the lights before me. But getting at their votes is
the difficulty. But it will be- after all, fortunate
for the country if still more important, because
more rit0I, questions do not share a common fate
In the grave of Postponement SIGMA