The daily union., 1852-05-08
mss on Foreign Relations is that to which they proper

~ belong - r'0psi'
But when senator has any Of these petitions to ur,.
sent he readily asceralus how the members OF that COM
mee have at previous sessions voted on the subie,
II the majority is found to be adverse the claims hey
musl not receive thai reference. select committee
asked anah mover is appointed chairman In the con
stiludoa sf such committee, the quaint old fule-tha,
every banung shall be committed 10 the hands OF ils
frendss applied, and the majority appointed from
those who are In favor OF granting the prayer OF The
pehuoners so II Was IN the Constitution OF he select
Committee who reported this bill All the members ba
recorded their votes heretofore The subeclhee for
and two against the claims. This choice OF Committees
was exhibited few years since in this body by The se
uon OF an honorable senator not now here He present.
ed several ofthe petitions, apd declined 10 have them re-
iered 10 lbe Committee on Foreign Relations ayoyyinv
reason that he feared they would be against them
and subsequently had them referred select conmlies
who We're, OF course, favorable % them. u T11@.s#
TINS illustrates the whole history OF parlianeniary
action on this subject II the proper standing commias
is favorable 10 the demands, the memorials are committed
to their charge; il tits known not 10 be select com
miiee appointed, OF whose members its friends have
majority. and who, of course. present favorable re-
port Where is the strength added TO these claims bv
reports OF that kind What sanction is given by them
which convince OF their Justice be regarded Az
testimony in their favor II bu three individuals in The
Senate Ia their favor, they would be placed on
special committee by parliamentary usage, and would
make favorable majority report As the opinion OF 40
many individuals should regard the views with great
Difference and respect But when we are asked to do
more and rely upon the official reports OF the Committee
evidence of the justice oil the demand, say we must
have The decision OF men not committed in advance on
the subectmen who are free from bias-who stand un
committed, like the independent Judiciary of the coun
y, adladcalng NE case according 70 their own convc
testimony as may be produced When thar is the case
yield 10 the strength OF their decison but never when
the examination IS made by tribunal constituted of in
divduals appointed for the that they are known
10 be in favor OF the applications a q t sfaai \
II has been alleged, as reason why these claims were
not paid az an earlier day. that the poverty of the national
treasury rendered lmpractcabe, at least nconve.
nient Does this afford satisfactory explanation be.
eve we might select years in the early history of these
claims, when the national treasury in better condition
than more recent PERIOD or perhaps the present time
In 1907, more than eight and half millions OF money
reported by Mr., Jefferson being in the treasury
ln 1sos there were nearly fourteen millions. when ony
about five millions were required TO pay the expenses Of
The government. We have never yet denied the iust
right OF any czen on account of our poverty No such
allegation IL contained in any Of the reports 8. ot
When the difficulties with France, arising from these
spoiiaons our commerce, were pending, millions of
money were appropriated, and loans almost whou, STINT
were allowed 10 carry on the war and TO repe the anc
paed invasion; small amount only used when the
adjustment took place. Why portion OF The residue
not appropriated TO pay these claims ii government
assumed them? Want OF means with which to pay was
surely not the cause OF their denial And indeed this
could, under circumstances be for refusing
TO acknowledge tile obligation ultimately TO discharge
them This bill, as reported to the Senate, did not pro-
vide for the immediate payment of the amount in cash.
but in government stock. at credit OF twenty years. The
government never poor pay the manner now
proposed, even i means were wanting. But this was
and more radical The justice of the claims was not ad
med by Congress- Ii the denial of the obIig ation
and not the want OF means to dischargei il, which, run.
nng through the proceedings OF Congress. has left the
matter st unadiusted 7As ~ " 5La4 Eon i--.IAa.a
Before casting votes for this BILL careful consIera
ton should be given to the tendency of the principle in
volved IN the proposed payment Where II lead this
government? Where are we TO set bounds our obliga
lions the payment of claims Of this descrip.
non The French spoaiions not the only instances
of injuries TO American commerce, is his The only
IN which Americas citizens have sought the aid OF
their government in obtaining lndemnities from foreign
nations without entire success. trfH slala5
H. Are TO review the whole subject, Are to 20
over the negotiations from the organization OF the gov
ernment to the present time giving indemnity citizens
who even with the aid Of the government have been
successful IN obtaining indemnity from foreign govern.
menlsl II we to do that, il behooves 10 look well
to the extent OF oblgaons before adopt the prn
ciple. During these OF Europe, 10 which have
often referred, suffered in every and
all the nations involved in that warfare committed
depreda,ions flag II not from France alone,
but from The other begerent nations aso that suffered
these spolatons Has conversation for citizen been
obtained from them II 45 .taEstH 5g as1l
Mi. BRADBURY Certainly England and Spain have
pSMydSFsf e. payment an aware q n. rrov.o,. a.
treaties with these nations By the treaty Of 1894 Eng
and assumed the payment Of previous injuries committed
under her flag, Since that time she has yexed CON-
merce and our seamen than ahy other nation but
has never, to my knowledge, made compensation Of
dollar Tor the injuries And since the treaty OF si4
one has supposed that subssting claim for compensa
government or our own for spolIsops and mpressmens
PRIOR to that treaty. Are we now to this matter
and pay these claims from the treasury fW siar1 Fl
We hal similar claims also against Spain. By the
treaty with that government OF the 22d Febuary, ,isl9
eonsde ration of The OF the Fordas the United
States undertook 10 pay ndemnes TO citizens TO an
amount not exceeding i've millions OF dollars and they
expressly 'renounce all claims for damages injuries
which they themselves well their respect We ezeps
and subjects, have suffered until the time OF signing this
treaty" Spain IS declared 10 be exonerated, and the
CLAIMS entirely cancelled Commissioners were appou,.
amount paid less than ninety two cents on the
dollar. Are readIust these demands and 10 appro
pfiae money 10 pay the balance u e.a 0s3
Denmark had also, and al the same time with The
French depredations committed similar spoliatons on
our commerce and by the treaty of $780, that nation
eminent six hundred and fifty thousand dollars In full
indemnify for the injured ciuzens under spu aiion
that all OF the "eaims should be regarded defnvely
and tfevocabiy terminated" The claims were settled
by commissioners, but the citizens recesved only about
tweny-one cents on the dollar on the amount suhssn.
was paid. The balance e-nore Than million and
quarter of dolas-was expressly renouneed by III treaty.
out never paid 10 the claimants, Cd nl as.sst
Now, here is case, clear upon the facts and much
stronger, 10 my humble opinion, IN s appeal the
OF Justice OF the ation for payment than that under con-
sdefstion No long and expensive negotiation adus.
the claims bad taken place no 10 enforce then
payment; no spmg Of Blood and litte expenditure Of
treasure 10 obtain indemnity from Denmark entire
claims being clearly cancelled by the treaty, by which
all difficulties adjusted and all counter claims DIS
charged Yet two.thrds of the amount OF the demands
never paid Is this balance 10 be recognised ass
national oblgationl Are these claimants also hold
the government responsible because they did succeed
N obtaining full payment, and make their own govern
men their debtors uH#