The daily union., 1854-02-10

aoors,aug the superior fitness OF their favorte leader
over all other men in The United States for the particular
position TO which he aspired.
French spoiiations.
The following s republished from the Union OF Feb
Iusry IL. 1852, by request;
WAsHkoroN, Feb I, 1852,
Mr. EDIToR The bill now pending in the Senate TO
indemnify our citizens for spolialons committed by the
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
10 nearly two thousand vessels and cagoes Time has
greatly obscued the character OF these captures and the
motives and conduct that led TO them almost beyond
belief al this day.
France, then in state OF phensy, vndlctyey ordered
these captures the alleged ground that The United
States had acted .'peridousy" her, and violated The
treaty of l77s by concluding with her enemy (Engiand
Mr. jays treaty OF November 49, 1894 twas purely
government quarrel France alleged that the cap
,ured vessels belonging 10 our citizens had committed
any offence; but, the contrary, all occasions when
the subject discussed officially, prolessed willing
ness to pay Tor them.
An Official report from Secretary Of State
nicated by the Presidents message Congress OF Janu
ary 81, 1799 furnishes lucid example OF these captures
being of the Identical vessels claimed or) al
a single French porl--St. Domingo; and the like prac-
lice prevailed at all her ports, and also in Spanish
and other ports where she had placed French officials to
carry into full eiec, her designs. Said report after de-
scIbng several preceding decrees adverts to that OF Jan
uary 1897 which declares all neutral vessels bound to
from English ports to be legal PRICE aud adds the fol-
lowing:
From these facts and the tenor of the decree itself
we can form but one concusion--thst framed ia
such sndsns erms purpose 10 giue scope Jor arbitrary
constructions, and consequently for unmisd oppression
and uexaton But without waiting for this decree, the
,,F N.
began their praces the Of the United States,
and, in February, 1897, the Minister OF Marine
(and the OF the letter appeared in the official jour
nal Of the executive directory, OF the 9th oil June that
having found no resource n fnance and knowing the
unfriendly disposition OF the Americans, and TO avoid
pershng in distress, they had armed for cruising and
that already eighyseyen cruisers were al sea and thai
for three months preceding the administration bad sub
sisted, and individuals been enriched, with the psoducl
Of those przes that the OF the 2l OF July
not known TO them until five months afterwards. But
say ,hey) the shocking conduct OF the Americans and
the indirect knowledge OF the inHios OF our govern.
ment. made il duty 10 order reprsas even before
had received the official notice OF the decree They e-
licitate themselves that American vessels daily
taken. and declare that they had learned by divers per-
sons from the continent, that the Americans per-
fdous corrupt. the friends of England, and that there
FORE their vessels longer entered the French ports
less carried in by iorce'"
After this recital before the council OF five hundred,
Pasoret Zone OF The most prominent! nember makes The
following remarkable reflections " Ga reading this let
ter, we should think that had been dreaming; that
had been transported into savage country where men,
still ignorant OF The empire OF morals and Of laws,
mil crimes without shame and without and ap-
plaud themselves for their robberies Pauus, Enus
or Cato would have praised themselves for emnen
service rendered TO their country Cruisers armed agans
friendly natonl Reprisals when itisw ourselves who
attack Rsprisais against nation that has not taken
single vessel o ours Riches acquired by the conhscaor
Of The ships OF people TO whom we are united BY
ties and whom declaration of had separated iron
us" The whole discourse Of the agent may he re
duced TO these few words Having nothing wherewitt
to buy seize; make myself amends for the property
which want by the piracy which eprches me- and ther
sander those whom have plagedi' g This ia rob
berry. justified by selhshness and csumny" Yet San.
thonax OF these robbers and the chief OF those
directoria agents, continued office and, going few
months afterwards from St Domingo TO France, was re-
csived as a member into one OF the legislative councils
Pas,oret also adver,s letter lron Merlin, then Min
lister OF Justice, and member OF the executive direct
ory, Mr.. Skipwh, consul al Of the United States
which also appeared in the journal OF the directory and
quotes the following passage; Let your government
break the nconceivable treaty which il concluded on the
10th Of November l7st with impIacabIe ene-
mics, and Immediately the French republic will cease Ia
apply IN He own lhFof fseuialiOns IN lDdt treaty
Z hch favor England to the injury Of France, and war
rant you iha, shall appeal TO those regula
tons, in any tribunal, TO support unjust prettn,ion.
"Have l." says Pastoret, "read this rghHyi Unjus
yysts~sonst Could II De possible that they should thu:
have been characterized by the minister who is himself
their agent and defender American State Papers
Gales Seaions reprint, vol. 2, pages 23t-5.)
Mr. Marshall, one OF the envoys to France, (aferwads
chief Justice,) wrote TO Mr. Lee, Attorney General
dated Paris October IL, 1897; "Mern when Minister Of
Justse received four thousand louis from the
prvaees, Tor the direction concerning the role ds9upags
and Is said publicly by them that money influences the
tbunals However this may be, entirely persuaded
that che courts even in the las, resort POLITICAL and
wl carry into effect the will OF the directory without
any respect TO its legally. THIS is insured by the nice
appointments made since the last revolution. The mem
bcrs Of lbe tribunals who Judge in the first instance, are,
generally speaking, themselves the cap,ors The gov
enment consennK 10 the merchants the national ships
owsr for the purpose Of crusing"( Docs, lsl
sess. 10th Cong, vol. 5p. a6s)
Macs sfss# c. H. J.