The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. BRADBURY,

OF MAlhk,
On the bill prOrdng for The payment q claim. for French
Ssasls dprii IA, 1884
The Senate as committee OF the whole. resumed the
consideration OF the bill to provide for the ascsrsinmsn
od satisfaction OF claims OF American citizens Tor spoa
IONS committed by the French prior the year 1900.
MI BRADBURY said; desire 10 say to the Senate,
Al he outset that it my hope and expectation that
nav get vote this bill today; and therefore, in
sssd Of making an elaborate speech, shall con6ne
vssl 10 reply to such positions in the Ingenious and
abe agument OF the honorable senator from Michigan
fur FELcHl as have material bearing the merits
n lbe question. agree with the honorable senator In
oue Of bis concluding remarks that it is duty TO
anime with great all claims presented against the
government and especially those OF long standing; and
sppea the Senate TO bear witness that such has
bsea nv uniform course since have had the honor
Of being member OF this body entered upon the ex
animation Of this with caution 1t pot distrust and
Iiel bound say that patent and extendet invesa
lion Of the subject forced upon my mind the conviction
that these claims OF our citizens Tor French spoliatons
are as lust as is possible Tor any demand 10 be- am
convinced they honest debt; and believing this,
regard il as no part of wise economy, highly prize
ths, virtue, TO refuse to pay honest debts.
As the Senate is called upon 10 act in judicial charac
ter upon question OF right and wrong, between the
goyerpmen and individuals who have other tribunal
than Congress to appeal 10 Tor redress is but the die
tate of Justice and common honesty that the subject
should be understood by those who TO decide upon n
Any magistrate who would undertake to determine such
a question between contestants, without taking the
trouble understand IT, would be considered unworthy OF
his position ask senator's 10 give their attention to this
subject and examine thoroughly the claimants can
desire nothing more, and need then, believe, have
fear OF The result
proceed at once, Mr. President. TO the question at
issue.
10 my opening remarks stated the positions which
tons have been candidy admitted by the honorable
Tor from Michigan, and others denied and ask attention
to uha admitted and Ohai is denied That we may under
stand precisely the points in controversy between the
friends and the opponents OF the bill. a s
understand the honorable senator to adm-and If
wrong will thank him to put me rght-that prior to
the convention OF 1900, numerous American citizens had
Just demands against the OF France for prop
ey seized and conscated under authority of that gov
eminent, in violation OF treaties and national law un
deand him TO admit, that Tor these spoations France
was bound to make indemnity 10 the sufferers. under
stand him to admit that our government undertook the
prosecution OF these demands, was its duty the
guardian and protector OF its citizens and that when
urged upon France. that government 8 up counter
claims OF her own against the L ed State under
stand him to admit that in the ra alton OF the cenven.
our citizens and forever released France therefrom
understand him to admit that government obtained
for this release remuneration by France OF the national
claims and those Of her citizens which she preferred
against the United States. 7a(s.
These seperal proposition. admitted Now ~ha is de-
msd by the opponents Of The bill
The honorable senator denies that the claims of France
we're of any validity He contends that they were mere
reext that could constitute valuable consideration,
and that the claims Of our citizens had been ex,ngushed
war. appeal to the honorable senator to say wheth
aIhave moi stated these positions fairlyi
Wr. FELCH Yes, sir
III. BRADBURY. II SO. then the only question left
open this. Were the mutual claims valid and subsist
ing At the time OF the opening OF the negotiation IN 1900
Mr. FELCH. The senator must not understand me TO
admit that the claims We had against that government
and The claims which urged against Tor the
OF The treaties, were demands admitted both Sides
and were weighed one against the other What said
was that they presented claims their side and for
newal OF The treaties, and that they made them
cuse for not allowing our claims.
Mr.. BRADBURY. am correct, then. in my statement
Of our respective positions We come, then, TO the only
question OF difference between US, ii is this:
We're the claims urged By the respective governments in e
noaOn Of 1900 and rsnounesd the e otAsr in the
ratification Of ~ eonpsaien, trsng and uald at that time
word respecting their origin On the 9th OF Feb
uay, ITS, the United States struggling for national ex-
ence secured the alliance of the government of France
and formed with her treaty Of alliance, by which We
guaranteed to her forever The integrity OF her Wes, In
da Islands and treaty Of andy and commercs, by which
we gave 10 her the exclusive use OF ports for her
armed vessels and prizes in all future By the aid
o this ally thus obtained Independence achieved
and estimate too highly the value OF thai
aid rendered in the darkest hours OF the revolution,
without which our struggle for liberty might have proved
aiailure. The French evolution, which broke out in
1859, involved that country in general war;
which the principal powers OF Europe combined to force
France TO restore the dynasty she had driven from the
throne II appeared TO be certain she must be crushed
the struggle and government began TO feel that
were chained to ally doomed to destruction, and unless
We could sever The bond, we might be involved in her
fate. We feared stand up to the treaty Of alliance 1t
fulhlment OF guarantee OF the French Islands.
which would require whole force, and inevitably in
volve us In the wars OF Europe. Accordingly the Pres
dent issued his celebrated proclamation of neutrality of
April 22, 1893 This created great disappointment and
dissatisfaction IN France II followed by the decree
Of the National Convention of May 9th, OF that year.
which authorized the seizure OF provisions in the ships
o. neutras on the plea OF necessity with the
that The value should be paid TO the Our
mee suffered. mlsunderstandIngs arose, difficulties null
hpled. On the 10th of November, 1894. our envoy,
Mr. Jay, signed a treaty with England, the enemy OF
France, and the maser-spirt in the hostile combina-
ton against her, which contained spuations conflict
With our obligations in the treaty with ancient ally
Ihs promugaton OF this treaty May. 1885, was fol-
Lived by burst OF resentment throughout France and
under color o authority OF the decree OF the Executive
Directory of March q 1927, authorizing the seizure OF
American ships unprovded with .'rcis fs3sipsgs," a
document which American vessel ever carried. the
ocean was literally swept OF our commerce several hun.
seos OIL our ships and cargoes conscaied, and
se portion OF the spoliatons committed which
ne subject OF complaint This state OF things could NOT
Ions oe allowed Our government, having failed TO ter
hae by negotiation resored 10 defensIve measures.
sea acts OF Congress were passed looking 10 this end
sna one declaring the abrogation Of our treaties with
rance shall have occasion TO notice these acts
pafeularly hereafter In October 1899, second mis-
son was sent to France, consisting OF Messrs Ellsworth,
ave and Murray. who entered upon negotiations with
me French ministers in April, 1900, which resulted in
oe convention OF which the claim OF citizens on
men own government arises This brief outline OF
,ne leading events is sufficient perhaps to show the
p,hon oil parties at the opening OF negotiations.
They stood thus France claimed damages for the
lahment OF the treaties, and the recognition OF their
onnued exsence aso for losses sustained by her Cit
nens The United States claimed indemnity for spoia-
uons OF the property OF their citizens and the payment
y lhe jus, demands they had on the government OF