The daily union., 1854-02-15

TO the Senate and the county than this
will say to the senator from Iowa that ! viii not,
however, oppose bis homestead bill, but wall endeavoF
10 be CO. iaborer in that great measure There will.
therefore be one senator IN tue body who will vote for
both these measures, believing them mol TO be neompati-
Bile, bat to be both demanded by the highest considsra.
tons OF public and private benefit.
Mr. President, II understand the history OF the mat
ter II Is briefly this without reference TO dates paTtcu.
larry: During the revolutionary war we were weak and
needed assistance We al that time applied TO the pow
eriul monarch OF France TO become our ally We made
with France treaty offensive and defensive We stipu
lated that she should furnish with money and men 10
aid IN struggle. aud stipulated TO return like
equivalent 10 her We agreed also. 10 protect her IN
the continued and perpetual possession OF her West In
dia islands. Oar ceased, and came TO a hna, glo
rloas and advantageous termination, not more by the
prowess and bravery OF our own ancestors than by the
assistance ol the French government As ! said, we
made alliance offensive and defensive with France,
and stipulated TO defend her against her enemies and
particularly against Great Britain and especially 10 pro.
tee her III the continuance OF the possession OF her West
India islands. Our dbculty passed away. Hers came
on, and she in vain appealed TO government TO come
forward and render service which had stipulated
render IN return for what she already had done for US
| We failed 10 reader her any assistance
The condition OF our country was such that we could
not do 1t. We had neither the men, nor the money, nor
the navy, to carry out our stipulation with her. We
had therefore, like bankrupt debtor, to say "Gou have
got our bond, but we cannot perform lis conditions. :
Such understand 10 have been precisely the condition
| of things
France, then, neenssd by unwllingness inabiI
ty-unwngness, she called il; for her magnanimiiy
would probably have induced her TO pardon we had
been able TO show her clearly that were unable TO
perform it, and she would have been lndulgng cred
ior; but believing that we were peidiousy and meany
refusing to perform part OF the contract, Tor which
we had received valuable consideration, she author
lzed, indirectly If not directly, her cruisers her prva-
teers, and men-o-war, 10 commit depredations
commerce. They did commit innumerable depredaiions
upon commerce, against which we protested. But
when we protested they said, n substance in return,
I.You perfdous nation; you are justly liable TO
these eprsas; you have not performed your engage
mens with and we are now driven 10 the extremity
OF war, when you, our ally TO whom, In times gone by,
rendered good service, and liberated you from the
bondage OF Great Britain, refuse to perform your
part, and we will seek our indemnity and redress in the
| best way we can"
| These spoations took place upon merchant COM
merce, and went for years and years. Then we ap
piled TO France, il business and our duty to
do; Tor hold that Is the duly OF every government TO
apply Tor redress Tor any injury or wrong done lis c
the lawful pursuit OF commerce at home or abroad
When peace was restored, we said 10 France Here is
our bill OIL particulars; you have captured, seized, and
destroyed when we at peace with you and all Eu
rope vessel and vessel B, with their cagoes and they
have been condemned; therefore demand OF you an
| indemnity for these acts
France did not pretend TO deny that the s,ipuations
were true, but said substantially "We do not know
the citizens, but only The governmeni OF The United
States; we have nothing 10 do with the citizens, but
only with the government OF your couary. And as 10
the government we have set-oh against you here Is
your bond IN which you stipulated TO return us services
for those which rendered TO you you stipulated TO
defend West dia possessions you have done
So and we have lost them in consequence of your fall
ufe to perform that stipulation we will, therefore, not
pay your citizens; We were Justified In these acts they
the only means which we had OF getting redress
for the non-periormance Of your pligh'ed faith"
After vaross attempts at negotiation; after the mat
Ter had been talked Paris and at Washington
pealedy, and and again brought 10 the consldera-
ton OF the two governments II was finally settled that
these claims should be mutually merged that tney
should be mutually abandoned that France, IN consider
aon OF abandoning and releasing her from her ia
blity to our citizens Tor these spollaons committed
against the laws OF war; and in consideration of
| her
from the non-peformsnce OF our engagements entered
into in treaty with her during the revolutionary war;
for mutual deeace and protection. That understand,
is the precisely
I voted ior this bill years ago in the other House
then gave il more thorough examination than have
now given il, What have stated is from general
recollection, having documents particular dates be-
fore me but the substance OF my remarks will be found
to be literally true, and 10 compoH entirely with history
Now, sir, In what condition. does this place us, IS the
question. We the soveregns OF the individuals
OF this country, their guardians. II you prefer that
term, have appropriated the debts due our wards the
people OF the United Staies, 10 qudsk our own debts.
That is good illustration as can give oil II.
guardian indebted 10 A, ans ia Indebted to the ward
The guardian goes 10 and says TO him, Sir, you
money 10 my ward" That is precisely what we told
France " You citzens, whose interests we are
bound to protect" In the case which have put, the
guardian says 10 A." demand that you shall pay this
bond IN favor OF my ward or that you snail pay him Tor
the respas you have committed, or the violation OF bis
rights" says" will not do II ; you are the guardian
il s true but here is your bond according TO which yoa
owe me 30 much Now why not settle this matter With
me- and go back TO your own house aud settle with your
ward az you peasei You owe this amount, and more
Then cancel this debt receipt 10 me for what owe your
ward, and will receipt to you Tor what you owe me
and then you may go and settle with your ward as you
please ... .,.
Well sir, il is not only mutually stipulated so 10 do,
but ii is actually carried out and If done. The guardian
gives iul rec ept and discharge that s nothing more
nor less than your release o the debt and nothing more
nor less than you have done by your treaty with France
You have exoneFaed absoyed, and dlscharged and re-
leased France from these liabilities, long and long ago.
more than half century agoso long, that those to whom
the de bis were FIRST due and Justly due, hold, have
long siace almost without exception, been swept from
the face OF earth and gone TO their long homes Leaving
heirs 10 wrange with Congress and the government Tor
their just dues.
The debt is released the guardian releases A. and takes
release in return tor what is due from him. In what
condition in law in equity, and, much more in morals
does place the guafdanl ssk you II he can go home
10 his ward and cay to him; True have released this
bond "a had the power do and discharged your debtor
A, but will moi pay you myself" Sir, in private life
would not such be scoTned and hooed from any
community Sir ee precisely in that situation here
While am clothed with authority or power anywhere
for the public interest viii al least be honest IN the
service OF those who here | would eel that
actions. | desire 10 represent, and will represent, no
constituency who would not allow 10 say take as
much meney from pockets as shall be necessary hon
oraby TO discharge our public engagements"
But ii !. suggested that il is O'Clock, the time Tor
the special order and If is desirable 90 with that
business will give way now. aud resume my remarks
herealte had desired 10 say something furiher but
give way.
On motion by MIR. HAMLtN, the further consideration
OF the bill postponed TO- and made the special order
for, half.pss twelve o'clock tomorrow.