The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
CLAIMS AGAIssr PORTUGAL.

CLAIMS AHSlNhI POhIIbhL'
Mr.. HOLMES asked, and obtained leave to offer
the following resolution:
Resolped, That the President OF the United States
be requested TO communicate to this House, if not
inconsistent with the public interests, the amount
OF the several claims OF the nited States against
Portugal, the nature of those claims, the CORE
spondence upon the subject, both at Washington
and Lisbon, between the two governments; also,
the amount and nature of the claims preferred by
Portugal against the United States, and all the cor
respondcnce between the two governments.
Mr.. McCLERNAND said he would avail himself
OF the occasion TO make few remarks in conse-
qucnce of the assertions made in relation 10 move
ments connected with these claims, and endorsed
by the newspapers. lie had seen it stated in seve-
raj quarters that an American naval squadron had
been ordered to Lisbon to enforce, by arms the de-
mands against Portugal. He did not deem il to be
necessary (as the Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Afiairs) TO make serious inquiry into the
truth of these rumors. Under the Constitution, the
power to declare war and blockade belongs to Con-
grcSs and II would be assumption on the part Of
the President of the United States to resort 10 it,
Mr.. HiLLlARD wished to inquire whether he
derstood the gentleman as saying that any portion
OF the naval forces ordered TO Portugal with
view Of enforcing the claims or intimidating that
power;
Mr.. McCLERNAND replied that, by implica-
ton, he was maintaining the very reverse. Ii was
not conceivable that the PRECEDENT would act on
measure of war between the United States and Por
tugal; and for that he did not make any
rious inquiry in relation TO the report. In conse
! quence of the procrastination Of the Portuguese
government, he supposed that the President, in
timltcd in his annual &c, instructed our di-
plomatic agent TO make demand the Portu-
gucsc government for the payment Of certain
claims, and, IN the event OF payment being re-
fused, to ask for his passports and withdraw from
the country; and II may be that Of the vessels
81 the navy, more, has been ordered to receive
him and bring him home, in the contingency to
which lie had adyerted; and he presumed that this
was the extent OF the action Of the President.
Mr.. KING, Of New Jersey, said that the news-
papers of the morning state that Mr. Clay, the
Charge at Lisbon, had demanded his passports, and
preparing to leave his post, and that the Amer
lean ships OF war had sailed from the TaCus. I'M
/ der these circumstances, communication from
i the President will, doubtless, shortly be made to
Congress, and the object Of the proposed inquiry
will thus be accomplished, without interference on
the part OF this House, which, therefore, need not
| move in the matter. He objected to the consdera
1 ton Of THE resolution.
| The SPEAKER said that the objection came too
late, as the House had received the resolution.
! Mr.. ASHMUN inquired whether the resolution,
calling for information upon the President, did
| not by the rules, Ii, over one day?
! The SPEAKER replied that no objection had
| been made TO it, introduction.
Mr.. ASHMUN remarked, that the information
which We have through the public prints indicated
a delicate position at this time and he~Tould
therefore suggest, with view of considering the
proprcty Of the adoption Of the resolution, that it
lie over one day.
Mr.. HOLMES replied that the subject was one
OF Two MUCH importance involving II dld,
tcrnational affairs, and perhaps the peace Of the
country with highly respectable, though small
power Of Europe, for him 20 have introduced his
resolution without much and scriOus reflection.
The State which he represented had direct int
rest in the matter, affecting the rice trade and
the Madeira IMPORTS and he felt il his duty as a
/ member Of that branch Of the Government invest
ed with the function Of declaring war, 10 demand
! Of the Government all the information in rcSpcct
! 10 proceedings which might involve US in difficult
| des with foreign powers. This House bad, or for
/ mer occasions, been guilty Of negligence in suf-
! fcring the Executive branch of the Government
| 10 proceed 50 far TO make il a point OF honor,
| " that We should declare war" II We we're
| entrusted by the Constitution with the power
| OF making war, we were expected by the peo-
! pic whose rights and interests, and honor were
involved, 70 watch all the proceedings of the Exc
cutve which might by possibility, lead to that
! var. On the present occasion demand is made
| upon Portugal, Tor indemnity, arising from the
| capture Of the General Armstrong, an American
privatecr, by British fleet in the year 1914. At
! that time at with Britain. Portugal
was neutral power. The General Armstrong
was lying IN the port Of Fayal, under the guns Of
! a fort, aud was captured by a British fleet. The
fort was manned by eight men, and had two old
! guns.
The owners Of the privateer General Armstrong
! claimed, through this Government, indemnity
from Portugal, AZ a neutral power suffering cap
turc In her waters 10 this demand Portugal re-
plies, her inability with her small force 10 have
protected, and demands redress from the British
/ E'f'i = H' bilAlhH government agree 10
indemnify the families Of those persons who were
killed In >Fayal, but refuse indemnity for the de-
,truction ofthe General A ARMSTRONG, on the ground
that the privateor fired the first gun Our Gov.
| crnment, apparently satisfied with the answer,
suffers the matter to drop. In the last few years,
| however, the owners OF the privateer again urge
| upon Government their claims for indemnify.
| Two successive administrations refuse, through
their Secretaries Of State, 10 revive the claim The
last admins tration, however through Mr. Clayton,
secretary state, thought proper 10 revive IT, and "a
| make pcrcmptOry demand Of the Portuguese
government; nay, even refuse 10 submit the mat
Ter to arbitration the ground that IL Is private
claim, II all government claims arc not on pri-
vatc account, except where injury has been done
| TO national property; if the claims between Bri-
tain and ourselves, submitted 10 arbitration at the
treaty Of Client for indemnity for negrocI cnrricd
away, we're not private, and we did not submit our
private claims against Mexico to the arbitration OF
PrtS'io; bot, under this flinsy, untenabe prctcxt
| arbitration being refused, our Charge al Lisbon
/ is ordered to make a final demand, and an Amcri-
can hcct makcsits appearance of Lisbon. Europe
becomes startled at the intelligence members OF the
British Parliament justify their threatened rcprsals
against Greece from the attitude assumed by us in