The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-30
The Meade Claim.

WASHlnGTON. May iOtn. loDO.
hardly know whether you are serious when
you ask to know the origin and nature Of the Meade
claim, q national debt identified with the posses
sion and history of the Floridas, and which has
been SO often avora bly, reported by the Committee
ofFoTeign Relations from one or the other Houses
of Congress. The claim is old enough to represent
itself in the Senate.
Its representative Is the widow and executrix Of
the late Richard w. Meade, of Philadelphia. Eve
~ year she presents her modest memorial, and
every year it has some honest and devoted friends
to urge II to some action II has passed the House
of Representatives, also the Senate-not ,showever
the same session-the two houses Of Congress, to
receive the action of the Executive, necessary to
its final passage and payment by the Treasury and
wonderful to say, this has been effected simply upon
the modest and respectful appeal of the executrix
of the estate, who will never employ agents or IN
fuences, to further her righteous demand
She has left it alone to the justice and virtue of
Congress, and il has, let assure you, honest sub
stantial frends-the leading statesmen of the coun-
uy-though they be in the minority. Its history is
known to every Senator and Member of Congress
since 1919 Every member of the family has been
silent to their Observation-Disclosures not one of them
has ever nterered with her control or action tn
on-not one of them has sought the influence Of
members in its behalf, whatever their respective
hard necessity may be to urge their demands upon
the government-all powerful to deny it, but have
confded it to her ability and sense of proprety to
prosecute it, and rs she was SO willed to do.
1t has been always thus prosecuted on its own
merits and justice-left to the honesty, virtue, and
patriotism Of Congress-thoughsas often has met
with cruel fate.
Its passage through ono or the other house, and
the favorable reports thereon, time after time, is
attributable 10 those leading and upright statesmen
their oaths and their sacred duty. They regard its
DOn-pay ment, as stain upon our national es-
cutcheon." Many members have ignorantly voted
become, and have after reading the reports print
ID Ixff Cd .losA h.,
become its friends and advocates. There are many
representatives in Congress who never read pri-
vate claims; they excuse themselves by saying
,ney nave no me 10 read reports r Of attend TO pIi
" standing board of commissioners" which
would relieve them of this difficulty. They also
refuse to vote, or give countenance or respect to
the favorable reports Of Congress committees. In
complying, therefore, with your request, can give
no better idea of the nature and origin of the
6 Meade" claim, than by enclosing a copy of a
letter addressed to the eldest son of the estate by
an old and eminent citizen, "a friend OF his father)
a distinguished diplomatist, who was intimate
with all the claims against Spain to be paid under
the treaty for the Floridas -
"WAsHINeroN, June 20, 1913.
"To RICHARD w. MEADE, Esq,
U. S. Navy, New York
"My Dear Sir-I received your letter of the 18th
May ut., in due time, but have delayed until now
TO answer it, in the hope and expectation of being
able 10 send you copy of your fathers powerful
and annihilatng argument in answer to Mr. Folks
speech in the House of Representatives against the
Meade claim.
''You ask me to give, in writing, the views ex-
pressed verbally, when ! had the pleasure to see
you in New York. ! will do so with pleasure; but
they must nece ssarily be much condensed when re-
duced TO the form of letter.
81 observed that the honor OF the government of
both Spain and the United States and particularly
Spain, was compromised, so loug as this claim re-
NAMED unpaid, and so far as regards Spain by the
very peculiar circumstances in which she stands
of property on the high seas; because Of doubt
whether it was pursuing lawful commerce; nor
from Spain suffering her territory and tribunals to
be used and abused by another nation (France) in
the unlawful seizure and condemnation Of the pro-
perry OF neutrals TWAS under both these circum-
stances that all the claims arose, Except the Meade
claim,) which were provided for in the Florida
treaty of 1919. That particular claim arose under
recognised authorities in Spain, with your father,
for supplies for the Spanish armies, fighting 10
maintain the authority and government of the law
full and legitimate monarch, and TO drive out an
opprcssor and usuper.
'sYour fathers supplies and munitions of war were
furnished and used for the sole purpose of preserv
ng the throne of Spain for Ferdinand and his dis
in is dakcs day, and deepes dses and
say that these descendants can never acqut them
selves Of the obligation thus contracted, and that
the honor OF Spain is compromised until your IA
Their, OF his descendants, shall have been Temune-
rated for the aid furnished by him, which in this
case proved invaluable and unappre ciable, as il is
well known historical fact that the Spanish
armies must have disbanded but for the supplies of
your father. And, il in any negotiation subse-
quently had with any other nation, your father,
without his assent and contrary 10 his solemn pro-
test and remorstrance, was turned over 10 such
other nation for remuneration, and failed BY no act
OF his own, but from technicaes, official formali-
ties, casualties, inattention pride or etiquette, or
anything else on the part of either of those govern
mentsof their officers or agents, TO obtain his just
more weight and force Than ever, TO take such
course as will end in rendering justice TO Mr.
Meade, by Spain paying the claim herself, or
using her good Offices in the most formal way Of
diplomacy 10 induce the other nation 20 do justice.
"The honor Of Spanis also bound TO see this
claim paid, because IL was an actual ascertancd
and liqudated claim; the accounts examined, au-
dited and settled by the Spanish tribunals special
y constituted by the king for the purpose, and actu
ally revised by The king in person, and with which
lac was perfectly satisfied; but not having the
money 10 pay down, the Spanish n.tion gave
bond is actually signed by the kings own hand i'd
| say, therefore, again, under this view, that
90 long as that bond Of the nation, signed by the
kings own hand, is unpaid, don't care from what
cause, the honor Of the Spanish nation, and the
personal honor and dignity Of the monarch, stands
compromised.
"1'htre is another view of IT, 1t wa. liquidated
and admitted debt in Spain, the exact amount as
ccrtaned. Not so with any other debt under the
treaty. The American Commissioners, contrary
to the wishes of Spain, decided that they would
investigate the fact, whether the claim was bona
fde one or not, and how !, arose, and whether its
amount was correctly ascertaned: and, to this end,
demanded Of spain all tho papers and vouchers in
the case. These Spain refused 10 surrender, (al-
though the treaty said, that all papers touching
claims 70 be settled under the treaty, should be fur
nished hy Spain when demanded,) on the ground
that The American government had no right in this
particular case Of your father, 10 make any such
demand or investigation. as Spain had already
done il, and had actually established and settled
the amount, and that the vouchers and papers upon
which that settlement had been made, were her
private property and belonged TO her archives, and
were rot such documents the treaty contempllt-
cd 10 be given up; and moreover, that % question
the amount. or 10 look behind the Kings bond or
obligation, 10 ascertain how and for what il had
been given, was TO impesch the honor aud good
faith 81 spain and her King, under the supposition
that shs either did not know how 10 settle her
accounts. or that che had given fraudulent bond,
and that therefore she would not give Up the pa
pcIs.
"Now, az the claim was not Gdjudicated upon by
the commissioners under the treaty, hy reason OF