The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-14
From the N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
the Hou. .. II. Bronson.

Judge Of The district court of s dated States for the
hsrn ds,ei Of Florida, IL The matter of hs ea'm
of Fsrrerd &c. The Uaiied States, under The oh ar
tiae Of The Florida treaty dstiusred August 80, 1851
We have just received pamphlet OF thry-one pages
with the above title. The sublect-mater has been long
before Congress and the departments the courts and the
public.
Certain claims on the United States arose under the
9th article OF The Florida treaty OF the 22d at February,
and under the acts OF Congress OF the Sd March, 1925
and 25h June 1884 intended To carry the article into ell
feet All the claims presented under those acts TO The
supreme court of Florida have been adJudlcsied. The
court awarded the principal SUN claimed on account OF
property lost; in addition thereto, interest or damages
Tor the deprivation OF It's use. The government has
paid the principal, but has far withheld the interest
The case now decided is an original one. and IS me
first OF the sort that has been brought before tbe
United States district court 10 which the unfinished busl-
ness OF the territorial court was transferred Inc de-
cslon involves not only the claimed by the plaintiff
but the right OF other parties TO interest, as part OF
Their awards. Judge Bronson remarks that his previous
awards as Judge OF the Supreme court Tor interest IN
these cases amount to hall million OF dollars; and ne
states this for giving at length the grounds OF
these allowances He and his predecessor, Judge Reid,
in The territorial courts, had uniformly allowed interest,
intending it component part OF the amount OF DANA
yes awarded in each case
The present the first in which the govern
ment oil the United States as well the claimant
represented by counsel before Judge Bronson and in
which this question of interest was fully discussed. The
result That The Judge awarded the principal OF the
claimed, and also interest the OF five per
cent from 10th May, 1918, when the loss occurred till
Goth June, 1885, the period fixed by law for hing
claims.
Judge Bronson gives lucid and interesting history OF
the remarkable transactions which led TO The injuries for
which the claimants TO be remunerated; and in the
whole history OF thus country there not chapter which
dsgfacefu TO it. The origin OF the affair is thus
stated
For some time previous to 1912 the United States had
looked TO the acquisition OF the provinces OF East and
West Florida the only probable means OF obtaining
any indemnity from Spain Tor the large which she
admitted 10 be due from her for spoa'ons and dePreda
tons upon our commerce, and for suppression OF the
rylf nj at NeyEO Resi- he
geographical position OF the FloTldas such that
their possession had become matter OF the first import
TO the safety OF the United States; and the POSSIBLE
y OF their passing into the hands of Great Britain any
other foreign power looked TO with great jealousy
and distrrsi and measure endangerng the prosperity
and best interest OF this republic
These circumstances led to the passage OF the joint
resolution and secret act OF Congress OF the 18th January
lsi wide Stat at Large vol g. pages All and 47al by
possession Of the Flordas in any arrangement has
been shall be made with the local authority of said
Territory for delivering the possession OF The same, or
any part thereof to the United States, or in the event OF
any attempt occupy the said Territory, any part
thereof BY any foreign government,
General Matthews, appointed as United States commis
sioner under this act went into the province with large
iorce and set about fomenng rebellion or revolution
in order 10 create local authority that would surrender
the province TO The United States This was not easy
tented and happy The culture OF Sea island cotton, their
staple very profitable 10 them, the price being fifty
cents pound Lumber, ioo tree of charge 10 the
inhabitants, who cut and sold II at high prices The
town OF Fernandna, on Amelia island, was a kind OF
neutral free port. at which large and lucrative trade
carried on with all nanons and revolution was The
furthes thing IRON the thought of the inhabitants.
1t was found that there was no attempt or purpose on
the part OF Great Britain 10 take possession OF the pro-
vince, and disposition the part OF the inhabitants
to revolt or surrender the possession OF the territory to
The United States.
General Matthews finally induced a few vagabonds
(some say only tour ye) among the Spanish subjects
pretend the patriots and accept the AID OF the United
States 10 berate them. He raised force OF 357 men,
States and also had the and OF several OF the United
States gun boats from the houa under the command oil
General Campbell, and summoned Fernandna TO suren.
der.
The Spanish commandant, seeing that the insurgents
were in FACT sustained by the United States, surrendered
the town TO the patriots who took possession, and raised
the patriot flag The next day detachment OF the Uni
ted Safes troops brought iron Point Peter. and
the newly constituted panot government surrendered the
Town to General Matthew'S as agent OF The United States
government. The patriot flag then struck aud the
American flag run up and the town occupied by United
States regular soldiers
The patriots. followed at shor, distance by United
States regulars, proceeded TO take possession oil ST. Au
CUISINE and other towns.
This horde of barbaans and robbers, acting, in fact.
under the authority oil the United States government,
laid the whole province consuming and destroying
everything within their reach. They burnt the build
ngs drove of the CATTLE destroyed The growing crops,
and converted the province into wilderness.
So far the destruction OF prooery was concerned,
says Judge Bronson the desolaon OF the Carnac by
Hyder Ali not more terrible and complete"
The United States troops were finally withdrawn from
the province in May 1915 and The government d.avowed
the acts OF General Matthew'S, and appointed Governor
Mitchell back TO the authorities OF Florida the
places taken from them.
In the treaty Of 1910 il provided that the United
States should make satisfaction Tor these injuries.
The chief part of the argument Of the Judge is intended
show that Just and adequate satisfaction requires the
allowance OF interest in these cases-no interest
M, but OF damages for the loss OF the
OF the property in question.
The argument on this point is able and conclusive.
The district attorney prayed an appeal, which he will
so instruct him
The government may now pay the money, await the
result OF appeal TO the Supreme Court The claimants
undoubtedly entitled in equity and justice, to all the
benefits OF this and previous decisions in their favor.