The daily union., 1852-05-08

claims Of her at the time against the United
States
g. That by The ratification Of the convention Of Sep
ember 5O ls0o France forever released from these
A. That the United States received valuable consid-
eraon for them their release from the claims OF Frsnce
against this government growing out of the treaties
These several allegations made in the report Of The
majority OF the select committee TO whom this subject
was committed and admitted 10 be essential 10 esisb
ish the preensons OF the claimants desire 10 present
lew considerations in reference 10 each OF them
10 me hrs place, then how far the demands for
WINCH Ihls ni provides acknowledged by the government
OF lhe United States! Were they recognised Just and
admitted claims, and urged such upon the French gov
ernment have said and repeat that the government
which the citizens of the United States had against the
government oil France for depredatons alleged to have
been committed by them, do not understand that the
United States in the OF that negotiation undertook
10 investigate each OF these claims, decide that
was Just and honest and ought to be paid over by the
| French government. "a
We had tribunal to decide upon their merits, or 10
investigate the tacs which they founded Sir
they were urged upon the French government in the ordi
missones should be appointed 10 hear the proofs and 70
decide on their justice, and that those should be paid
which were found to be justly due There were oiher
claims besides those OF the petitioners which also
OF them good Others subsequently, proved
utterly unfoundedyet the negoators urged an adjust
ment OF all by The French government demanding the
d''' each = : ''''S'on = us''ue on 'ns hel''s q
AT an early day after these depredalions on our com
PROCLAMATION issued
Of President Washington, which has been urged as evil
dence OF the recognition Of the claims Of these petition
ers by the government That proclamation declared that
complaints had been made Of the commission OF depreda-
tons upon the commerce OF the United States and as
sung the injured parties that due attention would be
paid 10 such injuries committed contrary 10 the law OF
nations or to existing treaties, and announcing that on
their forwarding well authenticated evidence Of the same,
proper proceedings will be adopted for their relief"
ms circular expressed only the ordinary duty OF gOt
eminent towards czens in case OF foreign depreda
hons-a duty which has been most faithfully performed
Without 1t the right TO the interference of the govern
ment N every proper case was perfect with III and.
while 1t showed careful regard for the interest Of the
citizen, assumed additional duties or responsibilities
If it is intended TO be alleged ,ha, our government
recognised and declared valid all the demands thus made
that they determined, investigation, that all were good.
their justice has been 50 admitted as that their 2 validity i
70 Be taken for granted think the allegation goes be-
proceed now, sir TO the second inquiry, which il
upon the question whether these claims ever admit
tea Dy France r. good and yaS demands against !ha
was bound TO indemnify these claimants is expressly
alleged BY them The position is assumed by the commit
tee that they were not only just claims against that gov
thony In seeking TO charge their government with
the payment OF claims against France, under the negota-
ton Of 1893 the recognised liability Of that nation must
be proved But, sir, were these claims in fact
knowedged by the French government Did that nation
ever express readiness TO pay and discharge these de-
nands as alleged by The clalmants Where the evl-
dence of such admssionl In the complicated state Of
affairs exhibited in the relations OF the two countries
These inquiries cannot be answered without 6rst de-
termlning, more definitely than have yet done what
precise class Of claims for indemnity provided for in
lhe BILL AS specified in that instrument. il embraces
claims OF citizens the French government ayri-
sing out OF Illegal captures deenons, forcibe seizures.
illegal condemnatons, and confscations committed prior
to the convention of September 3o 1soo." which are
not embraced in the OF the convention between the
United States and the French republic of the 30h April
1903 the treaty with Spain OF The 22d February 1872 and
The treaty with France OF the 4th July, 1881. ~
rpc0 has heen hy Z
be found either In the treaties before mentioned The
official documents pertaining TO the adjustment Of the
The convention OF September 30, lsoo specifies and
provides for the classes OF claims which were admitted
by The French government at that time, provides
Isl. That public ships which had been captured by
either nation should be restored.
3D. That private property not then defnitvey con-
demned Sconraband goods destined for enemys port
excepted) to be restored. o.
3D. Debts due from one OF the nations TO the indivd-
uals OF the other 10 be paid.
10 this proposition is annexed express rejection OF
certain claims. in the following words
But this clause shall extend to indcmnies claimed
on account Of captures confiscations." E.t.
Although The claims OF American citizens on France,
with the above exceptions, recognise in SO0 and
the payment assumed by that nation, no provision for
their discharge was made until the treaty OF 1903,
when we made the purchase OF Louisiana. sa4
In order TO ascertain what description OF claims there
were existing between the two governments, will ask
the attention OF the Senate official statement of
them IN letter from Messrs. Pnckney, Marshall, and
the treaty in 179S. This letter was directed to the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs and presents for.
NAL statement OF the claims which the American govern
ment required to be provided for in treaty They state
these claims 10 consist of two classes .r.#
"1st. or claims uncontrovered by the government of
France but which remain unsatished.
2d. OF claims founded captures and
the illegaliy OF which has not yet been admitted"
They then enumerated under FIVE heads the classes OF
embraced within the above description OF claims
admitted by France These all to be embraced and
provided for under the treaty of 1900 while the second
class OF casesthose founded captures and confsca
tons not admitted by France to be illega-are sudious-
~ omitted or rather BY express provision OF the treaty.
are excluded. "
II we tarn now TO the convention OF 1903 making pro-
vision for the payment OF claims which were admitted by
the government OF France in favor Of citizens OF the
United States, shall find the distinction il con-
inued Twenty millions OF francs appropriated to
pay these demands OF citizens This treaty il most
explicit in providing for all debts due to our citizens
which recognised by the fifth article OF the conven-
ton OF $500 II expressly provides for the payment OF
claims for supplies and embargoes. '#a q I
II also provides for The payment OF inlemntes in two
classes of cases for captures OF vessels
lst. Prizes made al sea, which the appeal has been
properly lodged within the time mentioned in the
ton OF 1900; and,
2d Captures Of which the council of prizes shall have
ordered restitution where the capors insufficient for
payment
Payment for all these cases is provided But added to
this specification OF recognised claims in the treaty OF
1903, is the following excluding clause;
Prizes whose condemnation has been shall be con-
hrmed expressly declared not to be included In the
provision for payment"