The daily union., 1854-02-15

AGENT atlOfnby tdclO IN lite IN reference
the matter and could not therefore be supposed 10
be Influenced by any outside considerations any Other
than those which spring IRON the merits Of the question
itself
Having said thus much. propose TO conclude my re.
marks by asking and answering few questions. FIRST
sir ask Are all governments bound by their duty such
TO their citizens subjects, 10 protect them in all lawful
pursuits home and abroad Is OF the duties Of
goyemment--ior | always in the habit OF
speaking OF duties than OF rghts--i repeat, then, is
the duty government TO protect its citizens subjects
in all lawful pursuits al home and abroad | sppre.
bend that there will be difficulty IN answering this
question in the affirmative no who has studied The
duties OF government and made that subject for thought
reflection, viii hesitate Tor one momen 10 answer this
question in the affirmative,
will not doubt that every senator here has made that
subject matter for his consideration. !, therefore,
in the affirmative that il is The duty of this govern.
men so to protect i,s ezens or subjects, The next
question ask is this Did the citizens OF the U0lled
States, in the lawful pursuit OF their business and CON
merce abroad, have spoations committed upon that CON.
merce by France prior to the year 1900! No senator
no has read the history OF the times at all, will hesitate
10 that question IN the affirmative. Ii is settled
beyond all question that large and extensive spoiaons
we're committed by The authority OF France-a govern
menl upon the other side OF the Aanc-upon Cit.
zens while they were pursuing their lawful ayocaons
/ Well, sir, what then foiows II this has been done
then fellows that II The duty 0f this government 10
ask to demand have, receive-i by no other means
then bring that suit known TO the law Of nations
,ma raio was the duty Of this government 10 ask, 10
demand, 10 enforce, 10 receive, aud 10 pay our
citizens, getting II from France, tu Indemnity Tor the
injury they had sustained while thus IN the pursuit
OF their lawful business and ayocatons And now
ask you, did this government do thsS Have they
yet done il? know il will be answered that this
government did make application after application
lime after me--did apply to the French government
| for indemnity for the injuries citizens had
tanned And what was the result Did they demand itf
Did they enforce thai demand Did they sue for this
indemnify Did they have it, receive il, and pay il
citizens' Some of these questions will be
swered in the affirmative, and some in the negative
They did ask il, they did demand III but they did
Tor 1t they did receive it, bot they paid it, not to our
citizens, but into their Golfers They received in
the shape of equivalent for what they owed France
for the nor. performance Of or obligations e her Fo.
our clzens. The citizens OF the government OF the Uni
ted Saesor of any other government cannot themselves
speak or apply TO any foreign government IN such
case this The only means by which they can pre-
sent their claims to foreign government is through their
own government, or their agents II is always the busi'
and duty OF government thus 10 speak Tor It's c-
zens, thus enforce their rights and claims And the
acts of thus in this abandoned the rights
of on. citzenH those rights were expressly cut on eK
The shoulders oil and charged 10 the government at
home.
know that the debates and documents upon this sub
ec, have shown that the administration at the mewhen
our merchantmen rather drawing in their adven-
lures, heslatng TO 80 TO sea tor fear OF further and
ruinous captureadvsed them by pubic proclamation
90 on with their 10 push to any extent to all
portions OF the earth where they had right 10 and their
government would indemnify them for all losses OF this
kind Now, l care nothing Tor such declarations
upon the part Of This government 1t was only re.
affirming what is the eternal duty OF the government
towards cItlZens, tue mUiuldUc nights oil The
from the government, Ihis government need moi
then, have done this; government sprngng into ex-
stence need reatrm, or even acknowledge upon paper
all its rights and obligations lis citizens Those rights
and obligations we'll known, all well understood
| Whatever form the government may be- whether mpe-
rious or LIBERAL whether the voice OF the people OF
individual control it, the obligations OF The governmental
is citizens alike The same. IL is oil sayD
me that The constitution OF the United States has provl
ded that private property in thus instance shall not
be aken for public without jus. compensation Thai
s only esl rmation reducing TO paper IN your con-
sltutoD, what is an immu,abie law OF right and wsag-
what all governments are bound TO do which recognise
civilization as their rule Of conduct. IL is neither more
nor less than that.
The whole matter results simply in this way: lhs
whole history OF the transaction shows that the govern
of the United States has not protected its citizens
their lawful pursuits and has appropriated the proceeds
OF this indemnity acquired from France that should
have paid 10 citizens, and paid into their own
Golfers; or, in other words, used il se'-cf, The
lawyers term il, against the nonperiomance OF the obi
CATIONS that this government owed France What thea,
are you called upon to do can but thing thai
is TO be done, envy not the man who, from bias ao
prejudice growing out Of the long delay, is led TO d
ierent conclusion My only rsgre,--and ! admit win
shame that am called upoR to blush for my counuy-is
that for more than half century my fellowcii have
begged year after year al the door Of national legs
ature Tor simple justice, asking that you should Dis
gorge from your treasury their money which you have
wanlonly, wrongully, aud wickedIy placed there.
No amendment being offered in committee OF the whole,
the bill was then reported TO tha Senate.
The question was upon ordering the bill to be ca Il
crossed Tor its third reading
Upon this question MIR. ADAMS called Tor The yea II
and NAYS; and hey weie ordered accordingly.
Mr.. WELLER The yeas and nays having been Of
dered upon this question, shall be driven 10 the neces
city of making a single remark. ] have been accus.
toned TO vote against this bill | believe uniformly II
voted against il when member OF the House oil
Representatives. confess took the trouble 10 10
vestlgae H. There was very large amount OF money
involved and 80 strong outside Influence at thai
day brought 70 bear IN iis favor that my preudces were
very naturally excited against IT, But during the present
session OF Congress- being confined temporarily my
room by indlsposon, took occasion 10 investigate tbs
subject read with very great attention very Learned
speech ade IN this Seuete some years ago By senator
from Delaware, and arrived the CONCLUSION that this
Just and equitable demand against the government
and dare not, entertaining tre opinions do, matte
what the amount appropriated may be, vote against IBIS
bill shall therefore, be compelled TO place myself upon
the record "a having voted upon both sides o this ques
ton. All who know know the fact that | am 10
the habit, from my positive character, OF remaining
the wrong until almost oil my friends have discoyeredu
the fact that was in the wrong.
The question being then taken BY yeas and nays uP@
the passage OF the bull, It was agreed toyeas 49, nays
l7--as follows: n
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Badger, Biyard Bell Dsura M
Evans, Fsh, Foot. Hann. Houston James, Jones OF Ter
nsssee, Mallory, Morton, Pearce Pettt Pratt. Sebssh
Seward, Shields, Smith, Sumner, foombs, Wade. Weaa
and Wnght-26 II
NAYS-Messrs Adams Bright, Brown, Cas-, Chrs
Clay, Dodge Of w sconEn, Dodge OF iowa, Doagaa fa
psincs, Jones Of Iowa, Msson, Norris, Rpsk, sldes
Walker, aud Wihams-E.
ILLINots
Ga motion by Mr.. SHIELDS. the Senate then took 40
aBd proce~ded 10 dsr comiail,ee OF The whole
Senate bull No l9--oeiug ga bill TO authorize the Sas
OF Illinois TO select the residue of the lands which s
IL entitled under the of the "a March, 1871 grsa
tn Nh,NA Il