American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-21
Ths FLORIDA claims.


been extensively and approvingly noticed in the.
public journals of the country. The conduct
ors Of the press are ever ready to extend their
support to well-established and just claims
against the Government, but they pounce with
alacrity, vigor and zeal upon any which have
another hue or odor
With the history Of the Florida claims the
most ofour readers are familiar. The Union, of
this city, few days since published IN ertenso
the able, learned, and comprehensive decision
of the Hon. ISAAC III. BRONSON, Judge Of the
District Court of the United States for the
Northern District of Florida. In this decision
the origin and character of the claims are in
diligently and pcrspicuously set forth, and
their incontroyertible justice indicated. Their
payment is provided for by the treaty of 1919,
between the United States and Spain, and by
acts of Congress passed in March, '23, and in
June, ga E
Every intelligent citizen knows that there are
three coordinate departments of the Federal
Goyernment-the executive, the legislative, and
the judicial The legislative branch of the
Government has enacted laws empowering the
Secretary Of the Treasury to pay these claims.
BY the terms of the treaty, land all know that
treaties made under the Constitution are the
supreme law the awards are judicial and final.
We cannot for moment, entertain the belief
that his Excellency the President of the United
States will commit tho " blunder' (Which, in
diplomacy, Talleyrand says, is worse than a
crime'' of reuiping, dsinterring the spirit of the
nm tba o1i ala I, nf Al
in effect gave the Executive judicial power.
The departed sage of Monticello-that i'm
mortal lover of justice and the rights of man
was in the habit of quoting with fervor that
part of our Constitution which declares, NO
man shall be deprived of life, liberty, or pro-
perty, without due process of law" The treaty
with Spain, of 1919, declares that the outrages
and depredations committed by our troops shall
be established by due process of law" Judge
Bronson DEGREES that the value Of the property
at the time of its destruction shall be paid
and for the loss Of its use or profits, five per
cent. interest, as part Of the damages shall
be added as the lowest measure of satisfaction
Money has been drawn from the Treasury to
satisfy claims of questionable, and sometimes
Oh revolving, character DuC mere are demands
upon the Government, recognised and provided
for by solemn treaties, by enlightened and un-
answerable judicial decisions, and by Congress
sional legislation The claimants in these cases
are not alone concerned; all who have en-
barked their capital and industry in the pur-
suits of commerce and navigation have vital
interest in the equitable settlement of these
claims. The principle is legal and just one,
that "interest as damages" should be allowed
for property Illegally taken or destroyed The
Administration prides itself upon its mante-
nance of the majesty and supremacy of the
laws. The payment of these claims are pro-
vided for by treaties, by laws, and by judi
cial DEGREES. Will the Government longer
delay their settlement? We hope and think
not. Their payment devolves, By lar, upon one
who has been styled by his admirers and friends,
Thomas, the wagon-boy Pin after life, the
able lawyer, the thrilling orator, the command
ing Senator, and now the chief of the exchequer
of the Union. Believing, as we conscentiously
do, that these claims are righteous and equitable,
we cannot doubt that the Secretary of the
Treasury will be prompt to act "like Cato,
frm-like Aristides, just" in discharging the
duties incumbent on him.