The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-04

that might thereafter undergo the revision Of Congress
g. Antiquity OF the claims All OF them had their orr
gin IN events which had occurred prior to lSOO aud they
had been since 1902. from 10 time before Congres
NO greater necessity or poprey existed for providing
ioI these claims at that time than had existed for near
half a century"
A. " The treasury has often been in a condition to en-.
able the government satisfy these claims and il is TO
be presumed they would have done SO had they deemed
them valid.
s: Nothing was obtained for the claimants by nego.
auoh," not able 10 satisfy himself that the government
han become IN any way responsible.
q The period peculiarly unfavorable for the salts
iac,ion OF claims OF 80 large an amount"
= There is no surplus in the treasury public debt Of
several millions OF dollars hal been created within the
last few years. We were engaged in foreign war, un-
certain IN its duration. Involving heavy expenditures
wed further loan"
7. The bill provides that they (the claimants) shall
be paid IN land scrip whereby they made in effect
mortgage on the public lands the States, which
he suggested would be contrary the interests OF that
section and OF the whole country.
s. = These claims are estimated 10 amount 10 much
larger sum thanr hEs mloas of dollars and yet the
claimant Y to rsls.se TO the government all other
compensation and accept his share Of the fund.- which is
known to be inadequate"
II were to speak with no than proper free
dom of The incongruous reasons thus put forward for
yetoing such bill the ground (as the late Presden,
himself admitled) OF "mexpediency alone" fear
might be thought 10 be wanting in respect for his men,
ory and therefore shall content myself with remarkng
tina. this paper must be regarded by every candid mind
from his pen while he filled the presidential Office In
this view the Senate have concurred for on the
return OF the bill the vote the question whether it
should pass, notwithstanding the veto, stood twenty
seven in the affirmative TO fifteen in the negative re-
curing change of only vote overue the obec-
ons OF the President by the constitutional majority of
two-thirds. The majority in favor OF the bill originally
was only four, but on the final II no less than
twelve And this must hs regarded alike rebuke OF
executive inerposi,on 10 defeat bill OF this character
and strong expression of the body in favor of the equity
and justice OF the claims themselves. We have, then,
the subject again presented for consideration under
circumstances Of deeply interesting import, which
hardly ia 10 arrest the attention OF this body II these
were claims OF ordinary amount only could there be
any doubt as 10 the disposition whica they would receive
al the hands OF Congress! II there pending here
claim for 100000. half million of dollars and
told that the subject had been favoaby enter
timed by no less than fifteen committees OF the Senate
and eleven OF the House-hat in instance had a
mee OF either body reported adversely for quarter of
centurythat the Senate had expressed its in its
favor on iour different occasions and the House
who would hesitate to for III! Would de-
bate be necessary Would il even be tolerated
Having thus shown what has been the action OF Con-
gress the subject. shall proceed consider
the entire case on lis merits And here would observe
that every with the history OF the
try must be aware that our citizens had received at the
commencement OF the present century, extensive inu.
mes at The hands OF France; partly by the fulhlmen
OF her engagements, and partly by aggression flag
and commerce. alike violatlve OF the obligations OF ex
isng treates and OF the laws OF nations These iDu
resand particularly those of toriuous character-our
government Tor long time anterior to the 30h OF Sep
ember s0o exered itself TO repress and 10 obtain in
demnty al the hands Of France. The whole diplomacy
OF the two countries for several years occupied with
the discussion and examination of the various prelen-
soDs and claims which advanced the one side
or the other. Much irritation and acrlmony were
ifested by both governments, and the nations
very near being involved IN desolating war; which
ouy prevented BY the convention OF the 30,h OF Septem-
ber 1900. 1t will he found, examination of the
respondence that the claims made by The United States
in behalf OF our citizens against France were as fol-
lows, viz:
l. Contract cases or debts due from France for supplies
furnished by citizens 10 her West adla Island. and
to the home government or continental France.
O. Embargo Cases. being claims tor damages occasioned
by embargo laid by France for her purposes, in
1894 large number OF American vessels lying in
the harbor Of Bordeaux.
g. Vessels and their cargoes which had been illegally
seized captured, but which had not been dehnityey
condemned the date OF the convention of the 3oh Sep
tenber, 1900
4 Cases wherein the wrong had been fully consum
mated, or where France had BY a final condemnation
appropriated American property to her own use.
This last class was much more numerous. extensive,
and important than all the other classes toy ether Ii
prsed depedaons extending more than seven years
which substantially OF piratca character, sweep
ing millions of American commerce from the ocean, ard
eonsgnng thousands OF our ciuzens penuty AID want
To the end that the Senate may be enabled TO form just
appreciation o those enormes, invite attention 10 the
principal arrees DEGREES under by virtue OF which
the captures and conhscaiions were made
L. Decree OF the National Convention OF the 9th OF
May, 1898.
The convention, after considering that The flag Of
neutral powers not respected by the enemies OF
France and that the French people were no longer per
med TO fulfil towards the neutral powers IN general the
they have often manifested, and which they
would constantly make for the full and entire security Of
and navigator, proceeded TO decree follows
AR The French ship. OF war and pryaieer. may ARES.
be laden wholly either with articles Of provisions be
destined encmys
with mercbandises belonging to an enemy.
The merchandiscs belonging shall be dc
el..d good prize and eonhscaed TO s profit Of The e,po The
articles belonging neutral nations and laden o
shall be paid for according their value In the place
to which they destined.
Asr In all cases neutral
articles provision an
effected The freight thereof shall be
paid which shall have been stipulated by the persons who
shipped them shall bo allowed In proportion
their detention by the tribunals who are TO have cosnzance OF ~
validity Of the prizes
ser their decision Of the inventory Of the said articles Of
provision merchandise Minister Of Msrn and another
The present law apple prizes
made the declaration shall have effect
The shall declared free and ersbe
although destined republic, articles
belonging nations. nechandises laden In
neutral vessels, and belonns the citizens OF
Frsnce."-vide Doc lo2, Ist sees 18th Cong, ?. ~
q Decree OF the Executive Directory OF the I'd July,
1876:
Tho Executive Directory considering IL becomes the faith
friendly commercial sdvsn
Of which he the
they should the benen Of
either through the weakness allies OF neuss
through interested through whatever motives,
would the Of articles in which they
stipulated decrees follows;
allied without delay be notified that
the of the French republic will vessels either
English wide Doc. loa p 10
Decree Of the Executive Directory OF the I'D March,
1897: