Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-03

State will be held on that day, although the law
allows Of their being held at any time during the
month Of March.
! II WIN the Post Masters and IOWA Clerks In
the several towns In this County forward US the
names ofthc candidates voted for, for Commissioner
the number Ct votes each received; also the names
Of the Town Officers elected By doing this i'm
mediately after the elections in their several towns
they will lay under great obligations.
FRENCH sPOLIATION BILL VETO.
President Pierce has justified the expectations Of
both his friends and enemies by his veto Of the
French spoliation Bill Its doom was iore-shadow-
ell in the speech Of the Presidents confidential
friend, the Senator from New Hampshire. Thstncs-
sage by which its fate was sealed is long, prolix,
unsatisfactory document, neither sound in its logic,
conclusive in its reasoning, nor creiitable to the
mental or moral endowments Of its author.
The claims upon which defunct bill was based
arose substantially in this wise;--In 1923 whea
France was at war with Grea, Britain, she called
upon US to fulfil certain conditions which she claim
Ell FROM under the treaty Of alliance, negotiated
in l7Is. Wedid not construe the treaty as France
did and therefore refused compliance. The French
Directory then ordered reprisals upon our com
merce, which resulted in the seizure and eonfsca-
ton Of large number Of our merchant vessels
with their cargOes. At one time the danger Of an
open war with our ancient ally was 80 imminent
that President Adams appointed Washington, Lieut..
General and eommander-in-Shief Of the American
forces.
Several attempts were made to compromise these
differences but without success. France was short
Of funds and constantly refused to pay fer the dam
ages she had inflicted upon our commerce. At
length. however, On opportunity occurred which
was readily embraced by our government. France
was in possession Of all that territory embrace
ed within the limits Of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mis-
souri and Iowa. and the territories Of Kansas. Ne
braska, Washington and Oregon. Being engaged
in war with England, and having no means at
command by which she could prevent this extensive
territory from falling into the hands Of her enemy,
being taken by the United States in liquidation
Of the claims Of her citizens, France coded all the
above territory to the United States for certain val
liable considerations. among which was the relin-
punishment of the claims of American citizens for
indemnity for losses sustained from French spolia-
tons. In other words the United States govern
ment for valuable consideration, assumed the OBJ
legation Of France to remunerte those who had sus-
tanned such losses. She purchased an extensive
and valuable territory and paid for it in part out
Of the private property Of her own citizens. Com
mon honesty would seem to demand that those cit-
zcns should be indemnihed in some manner.
The veto message Of the President is lengthy
document, but it fails to furnish any satisfactory
reasons why the vetoed bill should not become a
law. One of the most prominent reasons adduced
is "tlat these claims, have never since our exis-
tence as nation, been deemed by any President
worthy Of Recommendation TO Congress-" To this
may be said that Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Mar
shall. Giles Pickering and others Of that day and
generation, all expressed opinions in its favor
Congress has frequently considered the subject, and
50 far as its action was concerned, repeatedly set
tied it. Twenty-cght times has it been reported
upon favorably, and never has there been an ad-
verse report Seven bills for relief have at differ
emit sessions been passed. either by the Senate or
the House. Every vote that has been taken in Ell
Their house has been favorable. It has twice been
passed by both branches.
After the first passage Of the bill by Congress 1t
defeated by the veto Of President Polk, not up
on the grounds that the bill was unconstitutional
or that the claims 1t was intended to provide for
were unjust or defective He placed the whole
question on the ground of expeiency. He pleaded
the poverty Of the government. and the necessity
of reserying its funds for the war in which we we're
then engaged. Yet that act was never applauded
by the people, nor even by his party. 1t has el-
ways been regarded as blot upon his Presidential
career That he would have now signed the bill,
were he President, especially since it has been de-
liberately revised and passed by an increased ma
jority, may be inferred from the following extract,
which contains the gst of his objectiOns;--
Passed, as this bill has been, near the close of
the session, and when many measures Of Importance
necessarily claim the attention of Congress, and
possibly without that full and deliberate consider
alton which the large sum il appropriates and the
existing condition of the Treasury and of the ooun
try demand, deem it to be my duty to withhold
my approval, that it may hereafter undergo he re-
rision Of Congress
II is said that all the northern members Of the
Cabinet advised the President to sign the BILL while
those from the other side Of "the ine' eounselled
the veto. Whether OF not this be true the conclu-
sion cannot be avoided that were the claims present.
ed from the Southern States. they would have met
with different fate from the hands Of the Execu-
tive The purchase Of the MesillA valley, the ap-
peation for ten millions secret service moAey and
the approval of the TEXAS Debt Bill. when consid-
cred in connection with the above veto, afford pre-
sumptve evidence that President Pierce is inclined
to throw himself into the hands of his Southern
friends We are satisfied that he has filled the cup
OF his unpopularlty wherever North is known and
recognised.
The supreme Court has been in session at Fay
ei'evllle this week Report in our next.