Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11

more in the habit OF speaking Of duties than Of rghts to
protect its citizens its subjects In all lawful pursuits,
at home or abroad? apprehend that there can be no
difficulty in answering this question in the affirmative.
No one who has studied the duties Of Governmenswho
has made that matter part Of his thoughts and rehec-
tions-wl hesitate for moment to answer in the afr-
native will not doubt that every Senator here has
made that subject part Of his consideration and Of his
study conclude, therefore, that it is the duty Of
Government so to protect its citizens its subjects
The next question ask is spoations committed
by France prior to 1900 on citizens Of the United States
in the lawful pursuit Of their business their
No Senator who has read the history of the times will he
state to that question in the affirmative 1t is
settled beyond doubt that large and extensive spola
tons committed by the authority of France Gov
eminent the other side Of the Atlantic citizens
when pursuing their lawful avocations
What follows then It follows that, If this done,
it the duty Of this Government to ask demand have
and receive indemnty and by other means it could
be got to bring that suit known to the laws Of nations
the ultima ratio 1t the duty of this Government first
to ask to demand enforce receive from France and
then pay to citizens full indemnity for the in
ures which they sustained in the pursuit of their lawful
business and commerce.
ask did our Government do this. True, will be
answered they did make application after application
Time after time they applied to the French Government
for indemnity for wrongs done our citizens in the pursuit
of their and trade But what was the resultY
Did our Government demand? Did they enforce the
clamf Did they for it? Did they receive the in
demnty? Did they pay it over? Some Of these ques-
lions be answered in the affirmative and in the
negative. The Government did ask, did demand indem
nifty. The United States did for it but they
received it and put it into their Golfers They re-
ceyed it equivalent for what they owed France for
the non-perfermance Obligations to her. We have
released her from the obligation and we are bound to
4 discharge il ouraslvas
citizen of the United States or Of any Government,
cannot speak to foreign Government The only means
by which he speak make known his grievances to
foreign Government is through the agents of his
Government. 1t is always the business and always the
duty of Government thus to speak for its citizens
and enforce their rights and just claims In this case
the citizens right abandoned by the action of the
Government expressly cut off expressly waived annihi-
lated and placed upon the shoulders of the Government
| at home. &1
Sir, know that the debates and documents upon this
subject have shown that the Administration when our
merchantmen rather drawing in their adventures
and hestatng fear of further and ruin
captures advised them public proclamation ON
with their commerce. to push it to any extent to all por
lions of the earth where they had right CO. and that
the Government would indemnify them. care not, how
ever about any such declaration the part of Gov
eminent. 1t was only reafirming what is the eternal
duty of the Government to do and the immuabe right
of the citizen subject to have. No Government just
coming into existence need reafirm and acknowledge
upon paper all its rights and obligations to its citizens
They well known and well understood Whatever
may be the form of Government whether imperious or
liberal whether the voice of the people controls whe
ther the individual controls it, the obligation Of the Gov
eminent to its citizens subjects is alike the same 1t
is of no say that the Constitution of the
United States has provided that private property in
this instance shall not be taken for public without
just compensation That is only reassertion of it is
only reducing paper in the Constitution what is the
immuabe law of right wrong what all Governments
which recognise civilization their rule and the laws Of
nations as entitled to consideration are bound to do
The whole of it results in simply this, without going
into the whole history Of the transaction that the Gov
eminent of the United States has not protected its ct
their lawful pursuits that it has appropriated
the proceeds which it should have collected and paid over
to citizens its use and put it in its cof
fers In other words, the Government Of the United
States has used these claims set-oH as it is termed
in law against the obligation which it owed to France.
Then in what condition are you placed unless you dis
gorge equal amount and pay it to your citizens?
see but way Of doing justice envy not the
man who has bias prejudice against these claims
growing Of the long delay which has ensued since they
were first presented wish to lead him to different
conclusion admit-and it is my only regret connected
with this matter-that blush for the injustice Of my
country when recoect that for than half century
my fellow citizens have begged here year after year. at
the door of the National Legislature demanding Justice
demanding that you shall dsgorge from tho Treasury their
money, which you have wrongfully wantonly and wick
eddy placed there
Mr. WELLER. AS the yeas and nays have been or
dered on this question: shall be driven to the necessity
of making single remark in explanation Of my vote
have been accustomed to vote against this bill believe
uniformly voted against it when was member of the
House of Representatives. took the trouble
must confess to investigate it. There was very large
amount of money involved in it, and there strong
outside influence at that day brought bear in its ia
vor that my very naturally excited against
it. During the present session Of Congress- being confn
ed temporarily to my by ndisposon took occa-
sion investigate the whole subject and read with great
attention the very learned speech made by the dstn-
guished Senator from Delaware this subject years
ago. and arrived at the conclusion that this just
and equitable demand against the Government.
Entertaining the opinions which do no matter what
the amount may be- dare not vote against the BILL and
therefore shall be compelled to stand upon the record
having voted upon both sides of the questions and oil who
know know the fact that am in the habit, from my
positive character of remaining in the wrong until most
of my friends have discovered the fact before did
On the question: "Shall the bill be engrossed for
third reading 2? it decided in the affirmative, fol-
lows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell, Dawson,
Evans Fish, Foot Hamlin, Houston, James, Jones of Tenn
Mallory, Morton Pearce Petit Pratt Sebastian, Seward
Shields Smith, Sumner, Toombs, Wade, Weller, Wrgh-26.
NAYS-Messrs Adams, Bright, Brown Cass Chase, Clay,
Dodge of Wisconsin Dodge of Iowa, Douglass Fitzpatrick
Jones OF Iowa, Mason Norris, Rusk Slide Walker and
WilHnms-17.
THE MARTHA WASHINGTON CoNsPIRAToRs.-The St.
Louis Inteigencer states that occurred board
the Belle Sheridan the Ohio few days since,
consequence of the appearance of some suspicious look
ing characters who board at New Albany and
points below, for the purpose supposed Of
cuing the Martha Washington conspirators, who
board in charge Of Marshal Bruin demonstration
made at rescue, but resulted in complete failure Of
the plans of the parties engaged in it, and their being
u1y che TbaM