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

rHE PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE spoLIArIos Bill


THE PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE sPoLIATIoS BILL
We have shown the annals Of Congress that the
French spoliAton hich indemnity sought
sdefence agains, doctrine Of contraband set up
by England and the allied continental coalition reduce
France by famine. As long England without the con-
sent o country pursued this policy by Selling
ss adea with provisions and other going French
ports the French government compelled to obtain supplies
BY similar captures agreed to make ample compensation to
merchants for their cargoes take But when Great
Britain her part by agreeing to pay indemntes to our
merchants for past oonhscaon obtained governments
assent continue them and cut of supplies nom
France IL justly considered thai this aequieseenoe an
the scheme Of the coalition against France violating The
principles the subject Of eontraband established by our
treaty with that power In l7Is exoneraed france rom
their obligation and justified her in applying to Others the
rule applied 10 her The consequence was that the
which the government the United States preparing
TO wage against Britain up 10 November 1894, was
BY the operation Of Jays treaty, then signed directed
against France the weaker power on the ocean IL must
ever be in mind that President Washington in the
despatch addressed by his then Secretary OF State Mr. JEFF
frsou 10 our minister Mr. Pinckney told the British gov
eminent that il we permitted vessels carrying provs
ions TO France be restrained to British ports we should
see ourselves plunged by this unauthorized act OF Great
Britain into war; And it did plunge us into war with
France
The whole question on which the claim Of ndemnities
that closed il is pretended that any
is bound to pay the losses incurred by its citizens from
enemy The demand made by merchants of indemnih
cation by Congress for the spoatons committed by Great
Britain although against this power there had not been
attempt defend them even the privilege given TO
defend themselves, not granted. After having by
treaty with England secured for them the of its
val superiority after authorizing the merchants ships to
arm and make reprsals after employing the nations ma
val force pursue capture the French cruisers and
prvateers and after raising army to carry on the war
thus begun defence of there can be no pre-
text to assume that the United States is liable for claims
asserted against France unless made by the treaty which
terminated the hosiiies We VIII look into that treaty
and the negotiations which preceded it, 10 show how f
lille preences suggested to give color to their
claim against the United States for French spolatons
The ministers the United States unable to settle
upon the prelimnaries which they would treat and all
attempts suspended until the First Consul Bonapae
returned from Marengo. Our ministers had resolved that
they could upon the basis of he old treaties
they insisted these treaties annued by their inrac
tions suffered France being declared ahrogated
by of Congress consequent thereon and the French
penpoentaries insisting they could not without in
structons agree spuate for the payment of mutual in
IDENTITIES unless those treaties recognised the
Fundamental criterion of the wrongs for which the mutual
CONVERSATIONS should be made They said, in opening
their commission 10 ministers "The commission of
the ministers penpotenary of the French republic has
designated the treaty of alliance and friendship and Of
and the consular convention the sole basis of
negotiation Upon these acts the misunderstanding has
arisen and upon these acts it proper that union and
friendship should be reesablished In fastening
Mise the principle Of compensation it the intention
the undersigned exhibit unequivocal proof Of the
fidelity of France to her ancient engagements all pccuni-
airy spulaons appearing to her proper results from
ancient not preminaries to a one' This note
signed by Joseph Bonaparte, Feurieu Ruderer.
mini in thatth
"dd the It'll day Of july 1898, by solemn pub
lie act declare that they freed and exonerated from
the treaties and consular convention which had been
tered into between them and France for would such dec
laraion though justified by the law of and of
TONS then been made III had been possible
the United States which continuing the treaties and
sular convention the rule Of their conduct guard
against injuries which daily increased and threatened their
commerce with total destruction That declaration can
not recalled and the United States abide by
effects with respect to the priority Of treaties whatever
convenences may result to themselves Their government
it understood could not with good faith give
undersigned powers change affect such poritie and
they do not profess Them
The priorities which minister said "heir govern
ment understood could not with good faith give TO
the undersigned powers to change" the advantages
which were given to Great Britain by Jays treaty in
IT9s in derogaon of the treaties made with France in
1878.
By the defeat of the treaties of l77s the British treaty
made by JAY in all points collision took priority of the
French treaties if renewed The obnoxious result
oontended behalf of England from this construction
was that the French treaty which gave asylum Ameri-
ports to French ships and their prizes being
ded, transferred the right to Great Britain
Here the stumbling-block Our governments en-
voys says the journal they kept were officially inform
ed that the negotiation at stand the part Of
France that further progress could be made until
other powers procured from the First Consul as the
tenor Of their instructions made the acknowledgment
former treaties the basis of negotiation and the condition
OF compensation On the return of the First Consul from
Italy his ultimatum delivered ministers by his
brother Joseph president Of the French commissioners
He said it the decided opinion OF the Premier Consul
that the ancient treaties ought be the basis of nego
tons; that compensation could only be consequence of
the treaties and the re-esabshment under them Of the
former privileges and relations and that be would never
consent 10 make treaty surrender the exclusive rights
of France in effect in favor of enemy or in any event
make treaty with the United States which would not
place France footing of equality with Great Britain
The result of this fixed aud final resolution OF the First
Consul Of alternatives from the French
penpoentar the first taking the ground that the conte,
between the nations had constituted Of war At
least the part of France the second assuming that
the treaties had been annuIled by In regard to the
first the French nego,isors remark and conclude as fol-
tiers this subject In their Of sth instant
been sufficient TO induce the American ministers TO admit
the validity ofthese treaties it would follow necessary