The republic., 1851-01-31


the disputes which may there arise. They shall
have an entire inspection over the said vessels,
their crews, and the changes and substitutions
therein TO be made; for which purpose they may
go on board the said vessels whenever they may
Judge IL necessary. -
..Art ~. All differences and suits between the
subjects of the most Christian King in the United
States, between tho citizens of the United States
within the dominions Of the most Christian King
and particularly all disputes relative to the wages
and terms of engagement Of the crews of their
spectve vessels, aud all the derences of whatever
nature they be, which may arise between the pri-
Yates OF the said crews, between captains of diff
feren vessels Of their nations shall be determined
| by their respective oonsuls The officers of the
country, civil or military, shall not interfere there
in, or take any part whatever iI the matter; and
the appeals from the said consular tribunals shall
be carried before the tribunals Of France of the
! United States.'
The French revolution began in l7s9, and in
1898 it became general European war, in which
France, while treading continually upon the ferc-
est internal fires, barred her head to all the thunder
bolts of despotism.
Washington, by the serene tranquility and ma
estic justice of his character, reprcssed the sympa
thies Of the United States for France and the re-
publican cause, and sent forth his memorable pro-
| clamation Whereas" said the President, sit
appears that state of war exists between Austria,
Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United
Netherlands, of the one part, and France, on the
States require that they should, with sincerity and
! good faith, adopt and pursue conduct friendly
and impartial towards the belligerent powers, i
have therefore thought fit, by these presents. to de-
clare the disposition Of the United Sacs to observe
the conduct Aforesaid
| No less character than Washington could have
assumed neutrality in such crisis. Nor could
even he protect it in that fierce conflict of armed
opinion which ragged throughout Europe, as if all
its separate and widely different States had been
one entire yet distracted commonwealth. The cost
OF supplies two, three, and fourfold, under the
demands of the belgerent nations. The United
I'm na MI in mr. f1Au tnr llrfn he
three wheels OF industry y-produstion, manufac-
] ture. and exchange-and wealth flowed in upon
them like spring tide. The combatants, relaps
ing into the morality of the Barbary powers seized
American commerce was thus suddenly checked,
and the revenues it yielded rapidly declined JEFF
ierson, then Secretary Of State, met the emergency
| with declaration
al have it in charge from the President to assure
| the merchants of the United States concerned in
| foreign commerce or navigation, that attention
will be paid tp any injuries they may suffer on the
high seas or In foreign countries, contrary to the
law OF nations or to existing treaties and that,
their forwarding hither well authenticated evil
dences OF the same, proper proceedings will be
adopted for their relief"
The American merchants, thus stimulated pros
ecuted more diligently than befure trade which
yielded enticing profits, while its risks seemed to
have been underwrtten by their country. The
maritime injuries suffered by Americans at the
hands of France in the course Of the at
the time classified follows:
First Spoatons and NAL treatment of the ves-
ses of American citizens at sea, by French ships Of
Second. long and distressing embargo, which
detained many American vessels at Bordeaux in
I 1893 and 1884.
Third. The dishonor Of bills and other evidences
OF debt due to American citizens for supplies fur
nshed, at the request of France to herself and to
her West India Islands, in period of famine and
civil war.
Fourth. The seizure or forced sales of the cargoes
of American vessels, and the appropriation of them
topublic uses.
Fifth. The non performance of contracts for sup
plies, made by the French authorities with Ameri-
can citizens.
Sixth. The condemnation of American vessels
and cargocs under marine ordinances of France in
compatible with treaties.
Seventh. Captures, in violation of the provisions
Of the treaty, of American vessels laden
with provisions, bound to the ports of the enemy
To elucidate the nature of these injuries;
On the 9th of May, 1898, France authorized armed
vessels and prvateers to arrest and bring into her
ports neutral ships, laden wholly in part either
with provisions belonging TO neutral nations and
destined TO an cnemy's ports, or with merchandise
belonging to % an enemy and declared that that such such
provisions should be paid for according to their
value at the place of destination and just indemn
cation should be made for the freghts and the de-
tention of the ships. This decree was alternately
rescinded to the United States, restored, rescnd
ed again. and finally restored and left in full effect
American vessels known and confessed, but
found without passport or certificate, in the exact
form prescribed by the 22d article OF the Treaty OF
Amity and Commerce, were, by decree of the Sd
of March, l797, declared lawful prizes.
i On the I'd of July 1896, France decreed that she
would treat neutral vessels, either as to coniisca-
4 tions, searches, captures, in the same manner
that they suffered the English to treat them-a de-
cree that punished with violence the endurance OF
aggression committed by another, while it conhd-
cd in the discretion of the second corsar TO deter
mine who, BY becoming victims Of the first, had
| offended against SO extraordinary a code.
On the 29th OF October, 1893, France decreed that
| any native Of an allied or even Of neutral coun-
1 try, found wearing hostile commission, or scrv-
! ing in an enemy's crew, should suffer as pirate,
without being allowed to allege duress, by violence
| menace, or otherwise.
Besides one hundred and three vessels which
were detained by the embargo at Bordeaux, there
\ is a list Of six hundred and nineteen which were
captured and plundered before 1900. The true
number of spoliations is said to have been three
times greater. Contemporaneous expositions by
the authorities of the United States placed the ag
gregate Of damages sustained by the merchants at
more than twenty millions of dollars. OF these
damages, portions, amounting to about ten mil
lions Of dollars, were adjusted and paid under the
convention of 1900, finally carried into effect by
the Louisiana treaty, in 1893. The exact amount
Of damages due. however ia not now in question.
The bill before the Senate confines itself to unad
justed claims to be actually proved, and awards
only five millions, without interest, in satisfaction
| Of all that shall be established.
The United States diligently prosecuted the
claims from 1898 to 1900, but France did not so
| long remain mere respondent.
Edmund c. Genet, her minister, claimed, and
actually assumed to fit out priva'eers in American
ports, to cruise against British vessels. Under tho
2ad article of the Treaty of Amity and Conn
he demanded what, in fact. were 1..ieroe'
| ers, for French consu-' aainirai'y pow
tue of artir'~ o. an American poIIis, uy sn
80 =. oln OF the Consular Convention; while,
under color of the 18th article of the Treaty OF Am
| ty and Commerce, he insisted that trench vessels
had right to sell their prizes free from all duties
in American ports; and, finally, he complained
| that British ships permitted to take French
| goods out of American vessels, while reciprocal
| right was denied TO the French marine. All these
complaints however were dsallowed, upon grounds
which will not now be questioned.
Nor were the relations between the United States
and Great Britain less disturbed. Besides having
offended earlier and more fiagranuy than France
against our neutrality, Great Britain still, in v,o-
lation Of the treaty Of independence, held the mill
tary posts on our western frontiers, and, through
them, the control OF tho disafected Indian tribes;
nor did she seem unwilling, amidst our domestic
distractions, to provoke new trial OF our aoiity