The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-31

commerce under British protection Yet our merchants
would allow the sacrifice Of the French treaty and the
advantage the British well themselves derived from
the transfer Of alliance from France 10 England be
Justification Of the French spoiiations They demanded
that government should 1T vessesoswar TO pursue
and capture French cruisers IL done They demand
ed that the treaty with France should be abrosated and
was abrogated This decisive act proclaimed the face
Of il that IL warranted by the hosties Of France
and the leading members who advocated IL (Mr Sit
zreaves particularly predicated the in favor Of it
the broad ground that I'VE In a state OF war"
What right have merchants for whose benefit the
try sbrogaied its treaties and made war when peace be-
their interest and peace proposed on the alter
native of restoration Of the treaties and with mutual in
IDENTITIES the admission that had cancelled all
claims with the treaties assume the latter alternative
being chosen that their own government was bound to
indemnify them for losses after the country had directed
all its councils from FIRST 10 last 70 promote their interests
and had avished its blood and treasure 10 protect
from aggression, and force the enemy repair it, and
after had also authorized the merchants TO make
prsals and TO revenge their wrongs2 Our merchants kept
the spois they took from France Their felowcitzens
who raised fleets and armies had share France got
nothing from TO pay her despoled citizens and paid
them nothing Our government got nothing from France
in the shape of indemnities why should il take ndemni
ties out of the pockets Of the people who suffered in the
calamity TO pay merchants who had their support
in making reprsas and who taking into their hands
business of ndemnfcatons had enjoyed all its advan
ages Our farmers whose property appropriated by
the invading enemy in all wars, and whose products
sacrificed in this by the nonnercoure act
Unidentified by government The people of our
western frontiers whom Great Britain set loose her
savages and gave their houses the flames and their wives
and their children to the tomahawk obtained ndemni
ties from the government to which they had right to
look for protection. Great Britain Unidentified mer
chants for depredatons their that time
but they indebted to merchants for Jays treaty
and the transfer of alliance and the advantage of the
war il provoked France. If they entitled in equity
look for indemnity for French spoiaons anywhere il
is to the British government the American.
Great Britans agency made the French and she had
the countenance and encouragement of the political
party and the commercial class which allied with
her in producing that conflict in those hosties which
she Immediately resumed when we made peace with
France These hostes continued until they got their
quietus the plain below New Orleans That was the
indemnity paid for the wrongs committed merchants
in that war and although it was not coin it much
better than that which had been before received coin
from Great Britain. II made them patriots.
But where the principle assumed by claim agents and
the stockholders of the spolaton BILL in and of Con-
gess that the government is bound Indemnity citizens
wrongs suffered from foreign powers unless goes to
redress them, unreasonable the government is
judge of what is best for the protection of the interests
OF the whole people, and il is not bound TO nure the
whole for part Yet in the Of the French aggression
sustain il abolishes the claim to indemnity The nation
did make war; technical and constructive but author
lied in its national character and with the glorious
success for the protection of commerce We spread the
proud record of the nations recognition of triumphant
with F%nee and of its responsibility for it before
readers, copied from the "Annas of Congress-"
aMr. Parker from the Naval Committee reported the
following resolutions Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States in Congress
sembled That the President Of the United States be
quesed to present to Captain Thomas Truxton golden
medal mathematical of the late action between the United
States rgate Constellation, Of 3S guns and the French
shp-ofwar La vengeur Of "a guns in testimony Of the
good conduct in the abovenamed engagement wherein
example exhibited by the captain officers sailors and
marines honorable to the American and instructive
to its rising navy"
Resolved, That the conduct of James Jarvis mid
shpman in said fgate who gloriously preferred certain
death abandonment of his post is deserving of the
highest praise and that the loss of promising officer
is subject of national regret
Mr. Randolph opposed this resolution upon the ground
that our commissioners were at this time in the capital
of that country (France negotiating peace Mr. Parker
replied that Congress had passed bill which prescribed
the conduct of naval commanders In that bill they
authorized to take and destroy all French armed vessels
Under these orders Captain Truxon left this country
in obedience instructions that effect he pursued and
engaged this vessel which, though of superior force he
had beaten Mr. Nicholas of the sernest opponents
of the with France said, while are in actual
though declared he thought it naturally
be expected that commanders would in their COM
pee military characters when ships arranged for
battle and power given to act up TO the full rigor which
the laws of honor and of war would warrant"
This the made in debating the resolutions and
Congress decided by vote of eghty-seven four that
Captain Tuxton did his duty in thus prosecuting the
against France pending the negotiations in Paris
eud to it by treaty of peace. Here legislative
nuuciaion that existed and those in command of the
national force encouraged by the highest public hon.
initiate "the gaanry and good conduct wherein
example exhibited honorable TO the American name
and instructive its rising navy Can be surprised
under these circumstances that Joseph Bonaparte of
the French commissioners should say to the American
voys, while sitting in conference to make peace "If the
question should be determined by Indifferent nation he
satisfied such tribunal would say that the present
of things the side of America and that
indemnes could be claimed The other two commits
(adds the journal Of envoys made similar dec
laraonsp Our negotiators, in their private letter to
John Marshall Secretary of State transmitting these doc
umens are obliged say doubtless the congressional
act authorizing the reduction of French
authorization of war; limited indeed in its extent but
It's nature John Marshall before he had le the House
ecapituIating the various OF hostility between the
nations in speech opposing the reduction of the army
says: "This in fact though in forn-we
in fac with France, though is declared in
form what security 10 there that disposition will
invade Mr. Bayard said in the same debate
with France we have everything to dread
which the vengeance and power Of the great nation