The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-01

resentatiyes January 25 1885.
The House being the Committee OF the Whole the
state OF the Union
Mr.. PHILLIPS said
been illustrated by the eminent statesmen OF our
country do not promise that shall be able 70 add TO
Ny attempt will be- 10 array the facts in the simplest form
and 70 argue concely possible the legal and logical
deductions from them. In doing this should carry con-
viction 70 single mind in this hall, shall feel that
have accomplished something in the of Justice and
national honor.
Mr.. Chairman the bill under consideration connects
itself with earliest history nation; aye sir with
our very birth a nation IL brings before us the scenes
and events of that great revolutionary struggle by which
our liberties established and independence made
Here sir find this national hall decorated
with the portraits OF the two great men OF that eyentfn
and trying period On your right and your left are
Washington and Lafayette They who stand face to
face, wn stood side by side and shoulder to shoulder
Together the representatives Of their they
encountered the dangers and pers of the conflict Who
does not remember the desperate condition Of the Aner
army the dependency of officers the cruel prva
tons and suerngs of at that period OF the war
when the news arrived that the States had entered into
treaty of alliance with France by which that government
stipulated 70 maintain etecuay the liberty sovereignty
and independence of the United States well in matters
of government of commerce., treaty Of alliance Feb
ruary g. l778.) Sir, this intelligence brought JOY and
healing It's wings; il stimulated the bold, il confirmed
the waverng it lifted up and strengthened the downcas
will say that the independence of the States would
not have been finally achieved by their rapidly in
creaSlng tniS say lhat
without the aid ofFrance that time the result Of
revolutionary would have been more than probemat-
ical.
But it is important to be considered that while the
treaty guaranteed the sovereignty and independence of the
States and the possessions which they might acquire BY
conquest treaty stpulaons they their part guaran
tied France the then possessions Of the Crown of France
in America well those it might acquire BY the future
treaty of peace the subsequent treaty of amy and
Of 9th February and theconyenon Of November
IA 1888 twas agreed that the French should American
with their while nations with France
excluded from the like privilege Priyateers under
commission hostile to France denied the right to fit
their vessels carry barter there and to the French
consuls full power and jurisdiction given all
French vessels in civil disputes arising thereon with
plee inspection said vessels and their Such in
brief the mutual stipuations entered into between
the two governments
shall not Mr. Chairman go into the question whether
these spulations fulfilled in good faith. shall
inquire whether the aid promised given pass by
the obvious fact that Notwithstanding the eighth article Of
the treaty of alliance that neither OF the parties SHOULD
conclude either truce or peace without the formal con-
sent of the other first obtained in 1923 the States did
conclude peace with Great Britain without the knowl-
edge consent of their ally
These are matters which involve the honor of
try and the consideration of them not called for by the
demands Of the subject before Let it suffice say
that France loud in her complaints for alleged viola
tons of treaty compac and that the breaking out of
the war in lT93 with Great Britain she commenced sys
TEN of aggravated plunder and conscation of COM
merce and this carried to snch extent that the esti
of the number of vessels seized prior to 1900 has gone
as high as two thousand.
This satement though brief is sufficiently full show
the origin of the claims preensons the part of both
governments and proceed in the discussion with the
and undsputed fact OF American losses to
large amount occasoned by seizures and embargoes under
authority of the French government
The gentleman from South Carolina Mr. Orr who has
Just taken his seat while admitting that was
haassed and citizens despoed denies that this at
fored any claim for reparaton the French government
because he asserts these wrongs were inflicted during
period of between France and the United States To
support this proposition the gentleman has read the act of
l798 and other acts of Congress But it not surprise
to hear it announced that these acts were equivalent to
of between these two countries Under
the constitution Congress alone has the power TO declare
1t is Congress- the Senate House of Representatives
and Presidentthe whole legislative power of the
ment ! call for the declaration of war made against
France Who made it? Where is it? When did the war
begnY When did it end? If ended where is the treaty
of peace? Is the fact of one SO doubtful secret or
mysterious that challenged to debate the question
of its exisence2 The statutes which the gentleman has
read show partial hostility between the two governments
but general hostility and the gentleman has
fallen into the of not recognising the broad line OF
demarcaon which, well-established principles OF in
ternational law lies between them Without intending
the slightest disrepect to my friend from South Carolina
cannot feel il to be necessary to press this distinction
further
Having shown that the claims of our citizens did not
grow out of the aggressons of war; let us inquire what
view government has taken of them--wheher they
have ignored their existence admitted their validity
Notwithstanding the denial Of the gentleman, think
shall be able TO show that government has uniformly
considered them entitled to redress
The gentleman from South Carolina has introduced the
of Congress Of 1885, which, in terms abrogaes the
treaties with France At any rate, il will be admitted that
the treaties binding until the passage of the act
Prior that time, ii follows the treaties were operative
as large portion of these claims for seizures made
before date of that act they wonld be excluded from
the objections urged by the gentleman But let us return
TO the question of recognition by our government The
preamble Of that act rectes ground OF the abrogaion
that
Under the authority Of the French government there s
against the United States system OF predatory
violence nfractng the said treaties and hostile to the rights
of free and independent nation"
Here is solemn acknowledgment of the wrong com
mitted the French upon
of grevous TO justify the EXTREMIST action
of retaatoy character But this recognition does not
stop here The government admitting the obligation OF
protection due its citizens, sent commissions 10
France in 1897 composed of Messrs Pinckney Mar
shall and Gerry and the other in 1892 consisting OF
Ellsworth Davie, and Murray These commissions were
arrange and if possible to adjust all the difficulties
pending between the two countries included in which were
the claims of citizens for what now known as
French spoations,n
The instructions to our ministers in 1897 IS fol-
lows
Although the reparation for losses sustained by the c.
OF the United States in consequence OF irregular or
tentions OF very high Importance, and to be pressed M
greatest IL not to be insisted
indispensable condition OF the proposed treaty fon not
Ao,csrc claims of citizens to spn
that they be assumed by the United States loan to
the French government" doc l02 p. 45S,
In 79e the instructions somewhat varied
At the opening of the negotiation you viii inform the
ipdispcaobe condition IF the treaty stipulation 70
make the citizens 6 the United States full compensation for