The daily union., 1852-02-12
Frsnsh sPoIlaslons.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 1852.
Mr. EDITOR The bin pending ia the Senate TO
indemnify our citizens for spoliaons committed by
French prior 1900 will. is understood on all Sides
be shortly voted by both houses Of Congress- and with.
out doubt approved by the President The claims extend
to nearlytwo thousand vessels and eagoes Time has
greatly obscured the character OF these captures and the
motives and conduct that led to them are almost beyond
belief at this day
France then in state OF phrensy, vndctiyely ordered
these captures, the alleged ground that the United
States had acted perfdiously 10 her. and violated the
treaty of 177s by concluding with her enemy (Engand
Mr. jays treaty OF November 49, 1894 II was purely
government quarrel France alleged that the cap
tured vessels belonging 10 our citizens had committed
any offence but the contrary all occasions when
the subject Yas discussed officially professed willing
ness 10 pay hor them
An oineial report from our Secretary OF State, commu
ncaled BY the Presidents message Congress OF Janu
ay 2l i7s9 furnishes lucid example OF these captures
(oelng some of the identical vessels now claimed for
al single French portSt. Domingo and the like prac
hce prevailed al all her ports and also in Spanish
and other pos where she had placed French officials to
carry into full effect her designs Said report after de-
scrbng several preceding decrees adves TO that OF jan
uay 7i797 which declares all neutral vessels bound to
or from English ports to be legal price, and adds the fol-
lowing
From these facts. and the tenor OF the decree itself
we can form but conclusionai 1t aoas framed IN
su indefinite terms purpose gve scope for arbitrary
CONSTRUCTORS, and consequently for unlimited oppression
ana Ue1aiion But. without waiting for this decree, the
commissioners OF the French government at St. Domingo
began their plracies the commerce OF the United States
and, in February, l797 TO the minister of marine
(and the extract OF the letter appeared in the official Jour.
nal OF the executive directory OF the 9Th Of June) that
having found no resource in finance. and knowing the
unIrlendy disposition OF The Americans, and 10 avoid
pershng distress, they had armed for cruising and
that already eighty cruisers sea and thai
Tor three months preceding the administration had sub
sisted, and individuals been enriched, with the product
of those prizes that the decree OF the I'd of July was
not known 10 them until five months afterwards But
(say ,hey) the shocking conduct OF the Americans and
the indirect knowledge OF the 'neniens of govern
ment, made il our duty TO order eprsas even before we
had received the official notice OF The decree rhey fe
llctate themselves that American vessels were daily
aken and declare that they had learned by divers per
sons from the continent that the Americans were pertd-
Gus, corrupt the friends of England and that therefore
their vessels no longer entered the French pors unless
carried in by force"
After this recital before the Council Of Five Hundred
Pastoret Gone OF the most prominent members) makes
the following remarkable reflections son reading this
letter, we should think that we had been dreaming that
we had been transported into savage country where
men, still ignorant of the empire of morals and OF laws
commit crimes without shame and without remorse and
applaud themselves for their robberies as Panus Em
u.s. or Cato, would have praised themselves for an emf
nent service rendered to their country Cruisers armed
against friendly nation Reprsais acten ii is are our
selves arho attack Reprsais against nation That has
not taken single usss of ours Riches ACQUIRED by The
eoncatton Of the ships of people 10 tcho ,0e are united
6y redfe and phon declaration of had separated
from us - The whole discourse of the agent may be
reduced TO these few words Having nothing wherewith
10 buy, seize make myself amends for the property
h,, ,Ia
then slander those whom have pilaged p" sThis is
robbery, justified by se6shness and calumny" Yet
Sanhonax, one OF these "robbers," and the chief of
lhose direcioral agents. continued in olce and going
a few months afterwards from ST. Domingo 10 France,
was received as member into one OF the legislative
councils
Pastore also advers 10 letter from Merlin. then
Minister oi Justice, and now member OF the Executive
Directory. TO Mr.. Skipwth, consul general OF the United
States, which also appeared the Journal of the Directory
and quotes the following passage Let your govern.
meht break the nconcelvable treaty which il concluded
on the 10Th of November, 1894, with our most implaca
bic enemies, and Immediately the French republic will
cease to apply in lis favor the regulations in that
treaty which favor England TO the injury OF France and
warrant You that we shall not an appeal TO those
regulations, in any tribunal, support unjust preten-
sionS" /" Have says Pastore read this rightly. Un
us prefeasionst Could il be possible that they shoull
thus have been characterized by the minister who is him
self their agent and deendef American State Papers
Gales Seaon's reprint, vol 2, page 234-5)
Mr.. Marshall, Of the ENJOYS TO France, (afer-
wards chief jusice) wroe 10 Mr.. Lee. our Attorney
General dated Paris October l2, 1897 Merlin, when
minister OF justice received four thousand louis from the
OF pvaeers for the direction concerning the role
Gequipage; and j is said publicly by them that money
influences the tribunals. However this may be, / am
entirely persuaded that the courts even in the last resort
political, and will carry into effect the will of the
Directory, without any respect TO its legality This
insured BY the nice appointments made since the last
revolution. The members OF the tribunals, who Judge
in the first instance, generally speaking themselves
The captors The government is consgning TO the mer-
chants the national ships of for the purpose of crus-
ing"-tSenae Docs, Isl Sess lolh Ccng, vol 8, p 1867
G.. H. J.
For the Union.
gave in my last suecinct account OF the services
- an. III. -