New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-25
FRENCH SPOLIATIONS.
SPEECH OF WIN. II. SEWARD,
On he Claims Of american Merchants Js'
Indemnities for French SPoliatiOns.

Indemnities for French Spoliati0ns.
Deirersd a ne Senate Of he UAsS sta:s Jas. a. 1854
Ma. PRESIDENT: While no lawful public ca
gagement ought ever to be broken. debts founded
on the appropriation of private property to the
general use, aud especially to the discharge OF OBJ
legations incurred in the War of the Revelation.
are practically guaranteed By the Cons,itutios.
and are stamped with peculiar equity. They
ought, therefore, to be held sacred the safe
ty Of the State itself The claims before us fan
within that class of inviolable obligations.
The Peace of P arts, in 1863, reduced the broad
possessions of France in America TO Cayenne on
the Continent and the islands Of ST. Dom lingo, Mar
Unique, Gaadaloupe, ST. Lucia. st. Vincent, To-
bago, Deseada, Marigalante, st. Pierre, Miqaelon.
Grenada and Dominica, in the Atlantic ocean.
Great Britain, at the same time. acquired the Can
adas, together with the vast region Of New
France, and thus secured to herself empire
extending from the Calf of Mexico to the Arctic
circle.
In February, ms, the new thirteen Americas
States were struggling TO disengage themselves
from that empire. 1t was a conflict ripened and
final between Great Britain to retain supreme do
minion, and the United States to acquire absolute
sovereignty and independence. Great Britain.
so lately victorious her great continental
rival was now confessed mistress Of the seas. The
United States had then, afree population scarcely
surprising their present number Of slaves: Their
sovereignty had been assumed only nineteen
months before, and had not yet been recognized
by any foreign nation even by the least Of the
hundred savage tribes whom the wilderness pro-
tected within and around their borders. They
had no navy mercantile marine fortifcationa
constitution, nor even confirmed confederation.
The hopes which had been kinded by early suo-
cesses were almost extinguished by recent and
successive disasters Boston had, indeed, beea
regained, and Burgoyne had given back the passes
of the North but the enemy yet retained New.
York, and now victorious over Washington In
SUGGEST pitched battles, on fields chosen by
himself on the Brandywine and at Germantown.
was marching unobstructed toward Philadephis.
then the American capital. The precious metals
seemed to have hidden themselves again In the
earth and paper credits had everywhere collapsed.
The chaplain of Congress implored w ashington
to give over the ungodly war in which he was
engaged" The discounted army, without re-
cruits, pay, or sufficient food, had tracked their
way with bleeding feet into winter quarters on
the Schuylkill Two hundred officers had re-
signed and retired the hospitals and the neigh
boring farmers firesides were crowded by SOL
diers without blankets or shoes and the great
leader. in the midst Of discontents fast growing
into mutiny, announced to the loosely constituted
Legislature, which was now CONFUSED WIN ais
trust and faction, that unless some great and
capital change should occur, the troops under his
care must starve, dissolve, or dispense"
A great and capital change did occur Allied
armies, fresh, vigorous, and well appointed, CO.
operating with gallant fleet, met the invader.
htc dor at ODplad
to peace, sovereignty and independence. An au-
spicious star had led Franklin, Deane, and Lee,
the first of American Ambassadors, to Paris; and
it was an alliance with France, hereditary Toe.
but thenceforth fraternal nation, that wrought
out this great and capital change, and etected
that triumphant contamination.
The courses of the allies Immediately sepr'
ated, and thenceforward widely diverged The
United States completed their union In peace and
tranquility, and established their Constitution on
the unremovable foundations on which loyal CHI.
zens hope, and wise men throughout the world
believe, that il stands firmly fixed forever, while
by welLdirected devotion of the National reve-
nues to the payment of their debts and the es
tablishment of credit, and wise cultivation OF
arts and industry, they prepared the way Tor per
manent and extended empire.
France, on the contrary, began the descent to-
ward revolution in the very year when the UNI.
ted States emerged from its dangerous labyrinths:
and thereafter distracted herself tor thirteen
wears she CONFUSED all LuTOpos
1t was during this period that these claims for,
indemEities for spoliations arose
The political and commercial relations between
France and the United States had been defined
by treaties.
the most ancient treaty OF the United States, ex.
ecuted on the 9th of February, 1873. Ii stlPu-
lated (hrt II a firm, involable universal aud per-
perpetual peace. Art. That all commercial
privileges to be granted by either party to any
State should become common to the other con-
tracing party. Arts. 3 and The most favor.
ed footing for each party in the others ports.
ARTS and G.. Reciprocal protection to vessels
in their respective jurisdictions Art 8. The
aid of France in negotiations by the United states
with the Barbary Powers. Art. IL The mu:
tual exhibition OF passports and certlheates oil
cargo in cases OF suspicious vessels making the
ports of an enemy Of one OF the parties. Art. al
That goods of either party should be forfeited
laden in ships OF an enemy OF the other. An.
III That armed vessels OF one party might
freely carry prizes into the others ports without
paying duties to courts, and might freely depart 20
the places designated in their commissions, ana
that neither party should give shelter TO caPtors
of prizes from the other Art % That pm
vateers OF an enemy OF one party should not be
allowed to be fitted out or to sell prizes In the
ports Of the other Art. 20 That fee sniPs
should make free goods. Art. "a Defined ar
tices contraband OF war, and excepted from that
class many articles not free by the law of nations
GAt. 25l In case one party should be at war.
The vessels OF the other should be furnished with
sea letters or passports and with certificates con.
tanning the particulars of the cargo, 50 ~ to re-
lieve the rigors Of search.
Sscosdiy: The Treaty of AHidnce concluded oa
the same day, February Q, 177e. In this treaty.
the parties rected the execution Of the Treaty
of Amity and Commerce, declared that they had
considered the means of strengthening thsr
engagements, particularly in case Great Britain,
in resentment against those engagements, snoula
break the peace with France, either BY direoe
bostlities or by hindering her Commerce and
Navigation. contrary to the rights Of nations ana
.La neace anhaisting between those counriesi