The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-05
THE FRENCH spoIIATToy BILL.

We Published days since letter Of Hon Truman
Smith giving Of the various reports made in
the houses Of Congress on the French spoiatiop
claims As this subject is to be considered in the
House and the speech Of Hon SlAs Wright in 1885
regarded all hands the ablest argument ever made
against the claims deem il but set Of justice that we
lay before readers from thst speech show
ing the conclusions which he arrived Ii the friends Of
the hs positions OF Mr. Wright sue
eesfuly they ought pass the bi otherwise the claims
invalid The following extract win show Mr. Wrighfs
positions:
lowing propositions, viz:
81 That state of actual war by which be meant state
Of actual hoses and Of FORCE and interruption Of all
diplomatic friendly intercourse between the United States
and France had existed from tie time o the passage Of the
acts Of the th and 9Th July, 1888, before referred to- until
the sending Of the negotiaors Ellsworth Davie and Mur-
ray IL 1900 to make treaty which put end the hoss-
tiles existing upon the best that eoud be obtained
and that the treaty Of the 0h Of September 1900 concluded
By these negotiators was fact and 50 far as
claims concerned be considered az treaty Of
and conclude all sueh caims reserved br it, as finally
ratified BY the two powers.
-. That the treaty Of anity and commerce and the
treaty Of alliance of 1T7s wen the consular convention
OF s suspended BY the "a article Of the treaty
1900 and from that time became matters for negota
ton between the parties convenient time that there
FORE the desire to get rid Of these treaties Of sny
contained in them only the desire 10 get
rid Of obligation negotiate convenient time ana
that such consideration could have induced the Senate
Of the United States sxpunge that article the treaty
thereby that body had supposed was imposing upon the
country liability to pay to m citizens the q ave mil
lions Of doarA much larger than France had asked
in money, for full discharge from the obligations
relied upon.
IS. That the treaty Of 1s0o reserved and provided for
zn portions Of the claims that payment according to sach
reservaons made under treaty OF 1908 and thai II
at least doubtful whether the payment thus made did not
cover all the claims ever admitted intended
paid BY France; for which the expangng the
oud article Of the treaty Of 1900 By the Senate o the United
States in al probability, released nothing which ever had
which likely to hare rane.
Mr. w. said, he had been successful in establishing
either Of these Positions there end o the claims and
BY consequence, defeat Of the bill.
The advocates Of the bin conceded that two positions
must be established, their part, it, to wit.
81 That the claims valid claims against France and
bad never been paid and,
p That they released by the government Of the
United States for full and valuable consideration passing 10
its benefit BY means Of the release.
IT. then state Of war had existed il would not Be con-
tended that any eaims Of this character aot reserved or
vded for in the treaty a valid Chains ser the
c. EGoh His nrt proposition thSrr
fere Il sustained would defeat the b by establishing the
fact that the elaine not reserved In the treaty Of isee
were net valid ciaims
= The second proposition, II sustained would The
that inasmueh the valuable consideration passing
the United States alleged grew ont 81 the anerou.
obi CATIONS in the treaty u aity commerce. the treaty
81 Alliance and the consular convention and inasnr !,
these treaties, and all obligations past present or future
'oneraus otherwise growing Of them we're Suspended
and made Imperative by the seeona article Of the ressr Of
the soh September tsco nnt further negotia4ion by Tie
Of both powers should revive than the
Of the uniscd States c0nld not have erpeced ~
shey sxprnged this article from the treaty that br thus dis
charging ths govcrnnen from obligation 70 negotiate m
convenient sims they incurring against il liability
u millions 10 other words the discharge o. the government
from obligation nsgotate upon any subject AT caavs
time eoud have been considered bv the senate ~
the United good Rhd valuable consideration FOR
the payment Of private claims . the soun. a. ve millions
81 dollars.
the claims SeknOwledged ntene 10 BE- raid by
FrABoe paid andrr th treaty o. sos and that there
fare claims admitted or recognised b. France
claims remained add consequently The expunqnr a ths
secand article q the treaty 81 s0h % ~pteb~r lso
released nothing whch valid and nothing remained d
paid by the United States as liability n1rre y fhst
Modification Of treaty Here Mr. W said h would rest
bis reasoning 10 there three propositions.
Bat TIE senate should ast4rmins that NJ had be-u
wrong them an and hsd failed 10 sustain either he had
anotbe proposition which be considered conclusive and
any valuable consideration Cor the release
Il these ess hsvng PASSED the Cuised States n eous
gnenos 81 their discharge ou the obix ssns said
have been contsned In the former treaties These onr
ObENscns and the only which be hsd heard
anything IN the q the debate Of whch he hnd