The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-23
THE q MON.

i
said the President il appears that state Of war exists
between Austria Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain. and
/ the United Netherlands OF The one part and France on
the other and the duty and interest Of the United States
require that they should with sincerity and good faith
adopt and pursue conduct friendly andmpartia towards
the begerent powers have, therefore, thought BIT, by
these presents TO declare the disposition of the United
States to observe the conduct aforesaid" Ha& IT.
No less a characierihan Washington could have
sumed neutrality IN such a crisis. Nor could even he
protect il in that fierce conflict of armed opinion which
ragged throughout Europe as II all It's separate and widely
different States had been one ennre yet distracted Com
| monweah The cost OF supplies two, three, and
four fold under the demands OF the belgeent nations
Tine United States put in motion, for once and all at
once the three wheels OF MISREPRESENTATION, manu-
facture and exchange--and wealth flowed in upon them
like a spring tide The combatants, relapsng into the
morality of the BaIbay Powers seized and conGscated
was thus suddenly checked and the revenues yielded
rapidly decl ned jefferson, then Secretary OF State met
the emergency with declaration
81 have in charge from the President to assure the
navigation, that attention will be paid any
uries they may suffer on high or ia foreign coun.
es contrary 10 the law of TO existing
and that their forwarding hiiher ev
dences Of the same proper proceedings Will be adopted for
| their relief" ......r ##. ....
i The American merchants thus stimulated, prosecuted
more diligently than before trade which yielded en-
cng profits, while It's risks seemed 10 have been under
written by their country The maritime injuries suffered
by Americans at the hands OF France in the OF
the at The time classified as follows
First Spolalions and mal-treatment OF the vessels of
American citizens by French war and pri-
| vateeTs. .a... Ha.. |#@
] Second A long and distressing embargo. which de-
tanned many American vessels at Bordeaux in 1893 and
| 1894
Third The dishonor of bills and other evidences Of
debt due TO American citizens for supplies furnished al
the request OF France, to herself and TO her West India
! islands, in period OF famine and civil war.
/ Fourth The seizure forced sales of the cargoes OF
American vessels, and the appropriation OF them public
uses.
Fifth The non performance OF contracts for supplies
made by the French authorities with American citizens
i Sixth. The condemnation of American vessels and
goes under marine ordinances OF France incompatible
| with treaties
i Seventh Captures, in violation of the provisions OF
the commercial treaty, OF American vessels laden with
provisions, bound to the ports OF the enemy.
i To elucidate the nature OF these injuries
On the 9th Of May, l793 France authorized armed
sells and privaeeTs and bring into her ports
trail ships, laden wholly in part either with provisions
belonging 10 neutral nations and destined TO enemys
ports, with merchandise belonging to enemy, and
declared that snch merchandise should be lawful prize,
while such provisions should be paid for according to
their value at the place OF destination, and just ndemni
cai'on shosld be made Tor the c'ghs and the detention
OF the ships This decree alternately escinded
the United States, restored, rescnded again, and finally
restored and left in full effect M
American vessels, known and confessed, but found
without passport certificate, in the exact form pre-
scIibed by the 22d article of the treaty of amy and
merce were, by decree OF the Sd OF March, 1897, de-
clared lawful prizes.
treat neutral vessels either to conscations, searches,
or captures, IN the that they suffered the
English to treat hem-a decree that punished with vlo
ence The endurance oil aggression committed by another
while IL conhded in the discretion of the second corsair
to determine who, by becoming victims OF the first, had
offended against SO extraordinary a code,
On the 29th OF October l799 France decreed that any
native OF an allied or even OF neutral country, found
wearing hostile commission, serving in enemy s
crew, should suffer pirate, without being allowed TO
alege duress, by violence, menace, or otherwise.
Besides hundred and three vessels which were de-
tanned by the embargo at Bordeaux there is list OF
hundred and nineteen which captured and plumber
ed before The number spDliauOns eaId
have been three times greater Conlemporaneous expo
sons BY the authorities of the United States placed the
aggregate OF damages sustained by the merchants nj
| than twenty millions of dollars OF these damages por-
lions amounting 10 about ten millions OF dollars ad-
usled and paid under the convention OF 1900 finally car
RED into effect by the Louisiana treaty IN 1903 The
act amount oil damages due, however, is not now in ques
lon The bill before the Senate confines itself TO unad-
usled claims 10 be actually proved and awards only five
millions without interest, satisfaction OF all that shall
| be established.
The United States diligently prosecuted the claims
from 1893 to 1900. but France did not so long remain
mere respondent.
Edmund c Genet, her minister, claimed, and actually
assumed TO III out prvaees IN American ports, TO cruise
against British vessels Under the 22d article OF the
treaty OF amty and commerce. he demanded what in fact
were admiralty powers for French consuls IN American
ports. by virtue oil article sth of The consular convention
while under color OF the 18th article OF the treaty OF am
and commerce. he insisted that French vessels had right
TO sell their prizes Tree from all duties IN American ports
and, finally, he complained that British ships were PEI.
mited 10 take French goods OF American vessels
while reciprocal right denied TO the French ma.
rine All these complaints, however, were dsaliowed
| upon grounds which wall not now be questioned
| Nor the relations between the United States and
Great Britain less disturbed. Besides having offended
earlier and more hagranuy than France against
raty, Great Britain sill, violation OF the treaty OF in.
Dependence held the military posts on our western IRON
Tiers, and, through them the control Of the dlsascie
Indian tribes did she seem unwilling, amidst our
domestic Distractions TO provoke new trial Of our abll
y to maintain the Independence she had so reluctantly
confessed While John Jay opened negotiations with
Great Britain at London James Monroe al Paris, assured
the French Directory that Mr. Jays object was To obtain
compensation for spollauons, with an immediate resitu-
ton OF the western posts; and that he positively for.
hidden from weakening the engagements existing be
tween the United States and France These assurances
eieclual. Early in 1895 the French Directory de-
creed thatbe treaty Of amy aud commerce should thence
forth be strictly observed, and provided for ndemniiyDg
those who had suffered by the embargo al Bordeaux and
i Mr. Monroe began despatch with announcing that
satisfactory arrangement oil the claims Tor spolauons was
al hand Bat he closed the communication with stale
menl, that the ground thus happily gained had been sud
denly lost by OF rumofed supuatIons injurious TO
France in the British treaty Just then signed at London
cloud OF political mystery gathered upon THIS com
pact from the day OF It's execution the 18th oil Novem-
Der, 1894. until IL finally promulgated on the 9Th OF
May, 1896 France complained OF this concealment as
disngenuous; and she afterwards maintained that
the United States had not merely violated their
ments with her, but had abandoned, ALSO their pro.
fessed neutrality by relnqushpg he principle that free
ships made free goods, and by giving to Eogand too
favorable standard con,raband She therefore pursued
her depredatons reekessy than before, and with
the avowed purpose Of compelling the United States to
break their engagements with Grea, Britain her an.
Gent and inyetprate