The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-18
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AND TIE FRENCH

BILL 10 provide for the sscertanment and satisfaction Of
claims Of American citizens for spOatons committed BY
the French prior the thirty -frs day Of July thou
sand eight hundred and
BE- saaesa by Senate and House n Rspre.easaisrss II
the Usd States Of Congress assembled That sat
saction shall made, hereinafter provided amount
not exceeding five millions OF dollars such citizens Of the
United States their legal representative had valid
elaine indemnity upon the French government arising out
OF illegal captures deientions forcble seizures illegal
formations and eonscations committed prior the rat
the convention between the United States and the
French republic concluded the threth day Of Septem
ber thousand eight hundred the rateatons Of which
were exchanged the thirty first day Of July following
Provided That the provisions Of this shall extend to
such stipulated for and embraced in the
ton the United States and the French republic
cuded the thtieth day OF April thousand eight hun
dred three and for the liquidation and whereof
provision made in the said convention such claims
as we're allowed and paid, in whole ia part, under the
provisions the treaty between the United States and Spain
concluded the day Of February thou
sand eight hundred and nineteen to such claims
allowed in whole in part under the provisions of the
the United States and France concluded
the fourth day Of july thousand eight hundred aud
thrtyone And preceded aio That in ali Of transfer
or assignment, claimant shall be entitled receive
beyond the consideration paid and interest thereon,
provided the do exceed the which he
would be entitled such assignee the original holder
SEC 2. Aad Be IL further enacted That for the purpose Of
CARRYING provisions of this ascertain
the full and validity of said claims three commissioners
shall appointed by the President by and with the advice
the Senate who shall meet at the city Of
Washington before the first Monday in October next
and within the space Of years from the of their first
meeting shall receive examine and decide upon the amount
and validity all claims included within the description
above mentioned Secretary Of State Is required
forthwith after the passage Of this give notice of said
meeting to be published in three newspapers in Washington
and such other papers he may think proper The said
commissioners shall take oath affirmation be
tered the record of their proceedings for the faithful and
dgent performance of their duties and in Of the death
resignation OF such commissioner, his place may be
supplied by appointment aforesaid by the President
during the of the Senate of another commissioner
his stead The said commissioners shall be authorized
and examine all questions relative the said claims and
receive all suitable testimony oath affirmation and all
other proper evidence and documents concerning the
and the rules the decision of said shall be
the principles of Justice the law of nations
treaties between the United States and France wit the
treaty of amy and OF the sixth of February
thousand hundred and the of a
the date, and the consular
fourteenth of November thousand hundred
eighty eight Their decisions shall be in writing and filed
with their secretary and the individuals interested therein
shall, demand, have copy thereof, and the promuga
ton of the decisions of said commissioners shall be public
The said commissioners shall not, any time after the
first of December next, adjourn for longer period than
days. without the of the President of the United
States, in writing, first had and obtained
SEC. g. And be IL further enacted, That the said commits
needfu and regulations the
the provisions of this act carrying their said
commission into full and complete effect.
SIC. And be further enacted That it shall be the duty
of the Secretary of State to procure within the shortest
after the passage Of this act, through the American
minister Paris otherwise all such evidence and
relating said claims be obtained from abroad
which, together with the like evidence and documents file
the Department of State which may be filed in the
said department. may be before said by
claimants interested therein; but the shall be
removed from the files of said commissioners.
SEC. And be further enacted, That the awards of all
such cas nay aditsd and adjusted by tho said
missioner amount exceeding Eve millions OF dol
lars shall be paid pro and that the Secretary
acting upon principle shall ascertain and fix the
to be paid upon each award.
SEC. g. And be further enacted That the record Of the
proceedings Of said commissioners and the pro
duced before them SHALL after the commission closed
deposited in the Department of State.
SEC Z. And be Il further enacted, That said
closed and the records of proceedings the
deposited the Department of State
Secretary of the Treasury shall the application in writing
of any claimant his lawful attorney executor
assignee forthwith sign and issue the person entitled
thereto certificates of United States fvepercent stock
such sums such applicant shall desire, less than
hundred dollars in each certificate unless the award be
less sum- for the full pro rata awarded to such
claimants and such certificates Of stock shall be redeemabe
the pleasure Of the United States at any time after
twenty years the date Of the termination said
mission.
SEC s. nd be further enacted, That the President Of
the United States is hereby authorized to take any
which he may deem expeden for organizing the said board
commissioners and for this purpose appoint with the adj
and of the Senate secretary well veed in the
and Spanish languages and the said commissioners
shall have power to appoint clerk and also messenger.
Sec o. And be further enacted That the compensation
the respective officers for whose appointment provision
BY this act shall not exceed the following sums
which shall be paid out of appropriation hereafter be
provided:
each commissioner the rate, by the year. three
thousand dollars for years only No compensation shall
be allowed them for longer period.
To the secretary of the board the rate the year.
two thousand dollars.
To the clerk the rate BY year. Of one thousand dol
and the messenger the by the year. five hun
dred dollars Provid That the expenses Of the
mission shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars.
SEC. TO- And be further enacted That during the
tnuance said commission all documents and
having relation said claims which shall be addressed
or the said secretary shall be free from postage
SIC. H. Ind Be further enacted, That the Of five
millions of dollars, herein specified shall be in full discharge
OF all for for the class Of provided
for in this act and that the presentation of any claim
memorial the commissioners, ior adjudication under this
act shall be be and discharge OF the United
States and further compensation that he She
or they may be entitled receive under the provisions Of
this act.
SEc ~. And Be further enacted That attorney
the said board shall be appointed by the President by and
with the advice and of the Senate whose
shall be resist all unjust claims and protect the interest
OF the United Of the fund that may appropra
ted to carry this into executions and this end he
shall power examine witnesses and tesi-
-. Ill A.