The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-03

slavery is attempted to be carried into operation.
An appeal is made to the spirit Of instruction and
the mob, by the anti-slavery journals-and this is
called patriotism, support of the Compromise devo-
ton to the Union. Such exhibitions are only the |
beginning of the revolutionary game begun by VIM.
H. Seward, to divide and dismember this glorious
and happy Union.
FLORIDA INTEREST CLAMs.--We publish to-day
the opinion of Chief Justice fancy in the case manu-
featured for the Supreme Court, at its recent term
The claims allowed and paid under the acts of 1873
and 1884, and under special laws, amount already to
considerably more than million Of dollars. The
claimants now claim interest, amounting to upwards
of million more. Senators and ex-Senators, and
members Of the House Of Representatives, attorneys
and agents, have been engaged in proving this inte-
rest claim for years. Mr.. Corwin was, before he
was made Secretary of the Treasury, employed in
them with O contingent interest to the tune, 1t is
said, seventy hundred thousand dollars, which
he transferred when he went into the Treasury.
II was sought to get him to pay this interest, Ia
Gaphin, but he declined, on account of his deli
cate position. It was referred, first, to another
member of the cabinet, then to the Attorney
General, and finally the case was submitted to tho
Florida judge and the matter sought to be brought
before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court
rather significantly rebuke this course, in the opinion
now published and we find the views expressed
in the HERALD several months ago. that the decisions
of former Secretaries of the Treasury in these
were final and conclusive, and could not be opened
or reviewed by Mr.. Corwin without m act Of Con-
gress, expressly sustained by the Court.
ct cannot attarcords be disturbed BY an appeal to
this on any other Court, on in any other ,cay oithosa
the authority of an act Of Congress-" says tho Chief
Justice The claimants we notice, have since applied
to Congress. Mr.. Mallory of Florida presented their
petition few days since, which referred to tho
Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee,
doubtless, will examine into the claims fully, and
this would be favorable occasion to obtain and
publish full statement of the claims, amounts paid,
and agents employed Prior to the cession of Flori-
da to the United States, the provinces invaded
three several times by United States troops First,
in 1928, by Governor Matthews; second, in 1914,
by General Jackson, and third and lastly, by Gen.
jackson, in 1873 The United States, by the treaty
of lS19 agreed to pay the losses sustained by the
slate operations" &c., and President Adams, (who
negotiated the treaty,) always said the dana les Of
1912, 1913 and 1874 not included in the treaty
| So Secretaries w H. Crawford and Richard Rush
decided, and so Congress held The true ground on
which the damages should be paid by the United
States is higher principle than the paper treaty.
The laws Of nations justice, and decency, demanded
| that when the Spanish subjects thus wronged be-
came citizens Of the United States, they should
be unidentified, whether in the treaty not and this
was the ground which the act of 1884 was passed.
as the reports Of the committees show
The claimants should be paid fairly, fully,
and honestly. The allowance of interest has no
thing to do with the claim. 1t is not question OF
interest. That it is such question, is an idea no
statesman or jurist ut all conversant with the laws
| of nations could entertain for moment. A Wall
street broker who has other ideas than those OF
he minories may not be able to appreciate the dis
tnction; but every just and sensible, and impartial
mind can see that where there is no quidated debt,
and where the claim is damages for indemnity for a
spoliation interest has no more to do with the claim
than with an assault and battery case Besides the
doctrine of interest money is not established as
urged in mere money cases. 1t was formerly held to
be contrary to the Christian religion, and all usury
| was denounced as sin. 1t is not now allowable
except in special cases, and when given by express
| statute Government is not bound to pay it in any
case. 1t would encourage State claims. But in this
case they should indemnify the Spanish sufferers
honestly, fairly, and fully, and We hope they will do
so, provided it is done openly and above board and
no Galphinsm encouraged.
WILLIAM H. SEwARD's Niger PENNY ORGAN
AND THE IRISH CHAMBERMAIDs.-In speaking of
the advertising patronage which the New YORK
HERALD receives from the Irish, German, and
American chambermads generally, of this city,
the new penny trumpet Of w. H. Stewards party
makes the following allusion to that useful and est