The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-07
REMARKS on MR.. wRlGHT'S SPEECH on FRENCH
SPOLIATfONS.
delivered in the Senate January 3, 1885


The I'd article the of 1900 has been repre-
sented by Ar. Wright land other senators who have OPP
posed the poation caims TO have recognised reserved
and postponed till more convenient time two dis
tinct and opposing subjects only viz the old treaties
the side OF France and the poaon claims on The side OF
the United States.
reciion Of which destroys the whole foundation Of Mr.
wrghts argument; although there is for his
error there is no reason to believe It originated IN de-
sign.
The words of the I'd article after the reservation of the
old treaties thus inor upon the indemnities mutually
due claimed hence there reservation and post
ponement of three subjects, viz
lst. The old treaties
ID The indemnities due or claimed under them for
other causes, by France.
3D.. The spolaton claims in question, BY the United
States
The first must be understood to embrace the validity
and binding force of the old treaties at the date of the
vention of 1900, notwithstanding annuing act of
Congress Of July 1898, and the misunderstanding be-
tween the two governments And taking the first and
second reservations together they had reference ols
The guarantee Of her islands, which forever without
of circumstances Sach the language of the text
and the commentary thereon BY Mr. Jefferson his letter
to Mr Madison of April 3 lIea, thus AS 10 the
guarantee Of the French islands whatever doubts may be
entertained Of the moment at which ought nerpose
yet have no doubt but that ought to interpose Mt
proper time and declare to both England and France that
these islands to rest with France and that viii
make common with the latter for that object
The consideration which France paid for this guarantee
not merely las Mr. Wright alleges the m,iaaiy
reciprocity Of the stipulation itself originally, its eQaa
IT, in the convention 1900 las he also
tended but superadded thereto she had paid in money
IN making II ehecua on her part the enormous sum Of
fourteen hundred and forty millions of francs two hum
dred and eighty millions OF dollars stated officially by
her Minister Caonne to the Assembly Of Notabes the
22d OF February 1885, her support of the independence
OF the United States France had, therefore, rnch
than naked stipulation Of guarantee to justify her
walton; she had not only paid the great consideration
ramed but she had also, BY securing o Independence
created the ability in the United States perform her
part OF the guarantee when she should be called for aid
in turn
When subsequently, France called on the United States
perform her engagement under the guarantee the de-
mand uneourieousy refused neither the
duty had engaged Tor paid cent OF indemnity
for non-performance and in consequence Of refusal
France lost all her slandsthey captured BY her
enemy the British. Did the guarantee Of the islands on
part with that loss Not AZ al there no
such condition in the bond bound to them
10 France and then the defence Of them forever
and all ike occasions in astertmes In short was
manifest that in French with other powers she would
apply her whole force in other quarters and leave TO the
United States exclusively the defence Of the French islands
Herein were the strongest inducements the part Of
France to hold the United States the guarantee engage
and the other hand less strong inducement
the part OF the United States themselves
from so disastrous an obligation Grant for the sake Of
the argument that could defend the islands even
with whole force France might contend on The ether
hand that auxiliary 10 her the certain but
gran, IL true would that from liability since
pccuniary indemnity would satisfy the just demand Of
france perhaps bound TO receive an eauiys
lent in that shape and inability pay the loss would
still work exoneraton, time adequate make
the indemnity however great in amount light he agreed
and thus ourselves and poscFty be sadded with
an enormous and odious debt always liable be greatly
increased BY similar subsequent Was this matter
therefore OF trang importance either nstionY And did
get rid Of II for noth,nS7
ID There further point in the French reservation
Of the old treaties Of al least equal Importance with the
guarantee Just mentioned.
The Irritating and utterly inolerable stripping France