The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-27

deMnnies Jor rfe"c" SPoH'"e'""', "ot'oefeo !"
the Senate of The United States, January Al
1851
Mr. PaEsIDEsT: While no lawful public en-.
gagement ought ever to be broken, debts
founded on the appropriation Of private proper
~ to the general use, and especially to the dis
charge of obligations incurred in the. war Of the
Revelation, are practically guaranteed by the
Constitution, and are stamped with peculiar
equity. They ought, therefore, to be held as
sacred as the safety of the State itself The
claims before us fall within that class Of invio-
liable obligations.
: The peace of Paris, in 1863, reduced the
broad possessions of France in America to Cay
enne on the continent, and the Island of st.
Domingo, Martinique, Guadalupe, St. Lucia,
st. Vincent, Tobago, Deseada, Marigalante, st.
Pierre, Miqueelon, Grenada, and Dominica in
the Atlantic ocean Great Britain, at the same
time, acquired the Canadas. together with the
vast region Of New France, and thus secured to
herself an empire extending from the Gulf of
Mexico TO the Attic circle.
In February, 1918. the new thirteen Ameri-
can States were struggling to disengage them
selves from that empire 1t was conflict RI
pened and final between Great Britain to retain
supreme dominion, and the United States to ac-
quire absolute sovereignty and independence.
Great Britain, 80 lately victorious over her great
continental rival, was now confessed mistress oil
the seas. The United States had, then, free
population scarcely surprising their present num-
Der Of slaves. Their sovereignty had been as
sumed only nineteen months ore, and had not
vet been recognised BY any foreign nation nor
even by the least Of the hundred savage tribes
whom the wilderness protected within and
around their borders. They had no navy, mer-
camille marine, notifications, constitution, nor
even confirmed confederation. The hopes which
had been kindled by early successes were almost
extinguished by recent and successive disasters
Boston had, indeed, been regained, and Burgoyne
lad given back the passes of the North; but
he enemy yet retained New York, and now
ictorius over Washington in successive pitched
,attles, on fields chosen by himself, on the Bran
lywine and at Germantown, was marching I'M
bstructed towards Philadelphia, then the Ameri.
an capital. The precious metals seemed to
ave hidden themselves again in the earth, and
,aper credits had everywhere collapsed. The
haplain of Congress mplored Washington "to
rive over the ungodly war in which he was en-
aged" The discomftted army, without re-
ruts, pay, or sufficient food, had tracked their
way with bleeding feet in winter quarters on the
Schuylkl. Two hundred officers had resigned
md retired the hospitals and the neighboring
farmers fresides were crowded by soldiers with
out blankets or shoes; and the great leader, in
the midst of discontents fast growing into mu-
tiny, announced to the loosely constituted legis-
ature, which was now convulsed with distrust
and faction, that "uness 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 feet, met the invader,
and his surrender at Yorktown opened the way
TO peace, sovereignty, and independence. An
auspicious star had led franklin, Deane, and Lee
the first Of American ambassadors to Paris
and it was an alliance with France, a hereditary
foe, but thenceforth fratcrnal nation, that
wrought out this great aud capital change, and
effected that triumphant consummation.
The courses Of the allies Immediately separa.
ted, and thcnceforward widely diverged The
United States completed their union in peace
and tranquility, and established their Constitu.
ton on the unremoveable foundations on which
loyal citizens hope, and wise men Throughout,
the world believe, that it stands firmly fixed for
ever; while by well-directed devotion Of the
national revenues to the payment Of their debts
and the establishment of credit, and wise cul-
tivation of arts and industry, they prepared the
way for permanent and extended empire.
France, on the contrary, began the descend to-
wards revolution in the very year when the
United States emerged from its dangerous laby-
rnths; and thereafter distracted herself for hir-
teen years she conyused all Europe.
1t was during this period that these claims for
indemnties for spoliations arose.
The political and commercial relations between
France and the United States had been defined
by treaties.
First The Treaty of Amiy and Commerce,
the most ancient treaty of the United States.
executed on the 9th of February l77S. 1t stipu-
lated Art. firm, inviolable, universal, and
perpetual peace. Art 3 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 4. The most IA
vored footing for each party in the others ports
Arts, and 6. Reciprocal protection to vessels
in their respective jurisdictions. Art. 8 The
aid of France ia negotiations by the United
Sites with the Barbary powers Art. IL. The
mutual exhibition Of passports and certificates
of cargo in cases of suspicious vessels making
the ports OF an enemy Of one of the parties
Art. H. That goods Of either party should be
forfeited if laden in ships of an enemy of the
other. Art. IL. That armed vessels of one
party might freely carry prizes into the Others
p"ftS, Wilnoul Plllng uuucs 10 COURTS. ana nnl1nt
freely depart TO the places designated in their
commissions, and that neither party should give
shelter to captors of prizes from the other
Art. %. That privateers 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.
%. That free ships should make free goods
Art "a Defined articles contraband of war.
and excepted from that class many articles not
free by the law of nations Art 25 In case
one party should be ut war, the vessels of the
other should be furnished with sea letters, or
passports, and with certificates containing the
particulars Of the cargo, so as TO relieve the
rigors Of search.
Secondly. The Treaty Of Alliance, concluded
IN the same day, February 6, 1878. In this
realty, the parties rected the execution of the
Treaty Of Amity and Commerce, declared that
hey had considered the means of strengthening
heir engagements, particularly in case Great
Britain, in resentment against those engage
nents, should break the peace with France