The daily union., 1854-02-19

United States which taken away by her forces at
the end during the war of ls2-'l4 After this decis
ion OF the Emperor OF Russia, convention held
between the two goyernmens OF the United States and
Gfsa Britain, IN which the spulaons of the treaty OF
Ghen as decided BY the Emperor OF Russia. were al
tered to this extent Great Britain agreed with the Uni
tel States 10 pay in lieu of her general obligation for
all the property taken away the gross OF ~ 10000,
and The United States agreed, in consideration OF the re-
cei 0! that money, TO pay their own citizens Tor all tha
properly which had been taken away, and which Great
Britain under the first article Of the treaty of Ghent, was
bound 10 pay. seE
Now, tins money received from Great Britain by the
United States applied exclusively 10 the pay men for
slaves taken by the British during the war OF 1872
recolec, that according the decision of the En.
oi Russia, that obligation applied TO the payment
OF all other properly as well az slaves There was an
obligation on the part OF the British government 70 pay
for all property, merely Tor Slaves but tor all prop
eny taken away by s forces hence there was an OBJ
legation the part OF the United States government,
il received the 400, ,00o 10 pay for all property
taken This government, then, places isat precisely
in the position reference these claimants under the
treaty Of Ghent occupies in reference to the claim
ants for French spolia.Ions prior to 1901
thought it was necessary to dsabuse the mind oil my
honorable friend from Illinois OF the false impression
which he had received in reference 10 the facts OF this
case. According TO my recollection, my friend voted
with for this bill last session, after discussion.
II know my friend from Michigan did, who announced
spending sentiment with my friend from Illinois.
Tue principle involved in the bill simply This: that II
under the law ot 1916 the government Is bou0d 10
for real property destroyed by the enemy under ciran
cumsances, there is reason why should not pay for
personal properly taken and destroyed under The same
circumstances II my friend draw distinction be-
tween property house and the house ITSELF as Tar as
the application OF the principle OF the law OF 1915 is
Cerned, It is more Than can do
Mr. SHIELDS | will examine the facts between
now and next Friday and then it is very likely may
look upon this Question differently. II find that this
case comes within the principle that | laid down. and
tha, regard one. shall cenanly vote for
the bill But IRON hearing the report read by the Sec
reary, il struck me that it did The correct pnc-
pie take to be this: that The pays for prop
v he
| be destroyed.
Mr. PRATT. That is the principle.
/ Mr. SHIELDS But not for property destroyed by the
enemy. II this comes within tha, principle, shall
1 vote for the bill
Mr BAYARD ] shalt not attempt, if this subject is
10 be fully discussed to-day TO and reply TO the
remarks OF my friend from Maryland, lMr. PRATT l
think the distinction very obvious between the princi-
pie involved in the claims for French spoliaons and that
upon which this, together with Glass OF similar
is based. think shall be able 10 show, both by pre-
authority and repeated reports OF committees that
distinction has been recognised, aud recognised prnc
ples going 10 say incon,rovertble, between real
and personal property.
| will mention one single ground Of distinction which
runs through this whole case Il is ihis Tue principle
upon which you give relief that when the enemy
stroys private property according 10 the OF civil
zed waIfare you compensate the citizen for that de-
s,ruc.ion, because has been consequence of your
having employed il in such way as jus,hes its desuc-
/ iioa By the enemy. Nov, hold tia! that cannot lake
place with regard to personal property II may TO
real property You may convert houses into barracks,
and isake them places military depos,e IN that way
justfyng their destruction IN which you bound
to compensate your citizen lor the loss But il you
take possession OF properly for the purpose oil barracks
or for the purpose OF military deposile the possession
must be exclusive in scharacier An individual has
right TO permit his personal property TO remain there, and
you impress upon II no character, by lis remaining III the
| house, which would authorize justify the enemy 10
destroy ii by the usases OF civilized warfare THIS is
the principle shall attempt TO discuss when the bill
Mr.. PRATr One observation. desire /, 10 be borne
in mind that this tobacco was taken possession OF by our
troops and used beastvork Tor their defence. Mr.
President, Withdraw the call Tor the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDENT II there is no objection, the call
J for the yeas and nays will be withdrawn
No objection belas made, the vote on pos'poning was
taken by div.ion2l voting in The Affirmative. SO the
/ further consideration OF the bill was postponed.
/ NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bill
for the territorial organization OF Nebraska and Kansas
4 Mr. SEWARD said:
Mr. President The United States, at the close OF
the revolution, rested south ward on the St Mars and
westward on the Mississippi and possessed broad un-
occupied domain, cIrcuRscbed by those rivers the AL
egbany mountains, and the great northern lakes The
constitution anticipated the division OF this domain into
States TO be admitted as members of the Union. but il
neither provided for anticipated any enlargement OF
the national boundaries. The people, engaged
ganzlng their governments. imnrovDg Their social sys-
ems aid establishing relations OF nerce and ffiend-
snip with other Dalions remained many years content
within their apparently angle lmits But already
oreseen that the lice navigation OF the Mississippi would
soon become urgent public want.
France, although she bad lost Canada n chisalrous
battle. The heights OF Abraham IN 1893, nevertheless,
s retained her territories the western han
OF the Mississippi She had also Just before break
ing OF her fearful revolution, acquired. by
secret treaty, the possessions on the Cult OF Mexico.
which, in arecenl war. had been wresed from her by
Spain Her Frs, Consul, among those brilliant achieve
which proved him The first statesman well as
The fra, captain OF Europe sagaciousy sold The whole
OF these possessions TO the United Sates for liberal
sum- and thus repIenished his treasury while he saved
from his enemies, and transferred 10 friendly power
distant and vast regions, which, for want OF adequate
| MAJ al Hpi nd
\ This purchase OF Louisiana from Fraace, by the Uni
ted S,aies involved grave dispute concerning the west
limits uf that provnce and this controversy, having
remained open until lsl9 was then adjusted By treaty,
IN which trey relinqnshsd Texas Spap and accepted
cesson OF the early discovered and long Inhabited
provinces OF East Forida and West Florida The United
States IT puaied. each Of these cases. to admit the
countries thus snnexed into the icJers Upon
The acquisitions Ct Oregon by discovery and occupa.
ton OF Texas, by her voluntary annexation, and OF New
Mexico and California, including what ~ now called
meni the close which frontier been fixed
near Tho cepire of what New Spain. the Atlantic
side OF the continent. while the west the
only separates us from the nations OF the Old
World. IL is not in my way now 10 speculate on the
question how long are 10 rest on these advanced po
sitlons.
Slavery, before the revolution, existed in all the hr
teen colonies a. did also 10 nearly all the other Euro.
pean plantations in America Butit had been forced ny
the American people, against their own sagscioas IN.
sneis of policy and their stronger feelings OF justice and
humanity
They hal protested and demonstrated against the sys
tenn Earnestly of forty years. and they ceased to protest
and remonstrae against 1t only when they hnsly