Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-04
Claim of Richard w. Meade.

OuT teaieIs iion It's llequSht u'oSu''i0" So
Congress in years past, is W before the
Court Of Claims Ter adjudication. Having
reccntly been referred to by some of the news
papers in a manner to d. injustice to its mer-
its, the heirs, who are prosecuting the claim,
have placed before the public statement OF
the Hon. Reverdy Johnson's recent argument
before the court in support Of the claim -
Mr.. Johnson's argument is a very able one,
ard had We room, We would publish 1t en-
tire. We can only, however, make space tor
a synopsis of the propositions he presented.
|. That as a statement of this claim was
presented by the claimant to the Department
of State and to the Minister of the Unl!ct
States in Saain bet Eeen the dare OF tue Con-
ventiou If 1902 and the signature Of the trea-
ty Of 1919, and was Intended 10 he thereby
included in the remuneration ftbe filth clause
Of the 9th article of the treaty rs afterwards
contended by Spain and admitted BY our
Secretary Of State, such remuneration as be-
tween the two cations was binding upon the
United States aud im posed upon them, as be-
tween them and the claimant, every just la
bility legally resulting from 1t.
III. That if any possible doubt can exist
that such was the operation OF the treaty,
either because Of any supposed want OF au'
thority on the part OF the Ualted States TO
make the renuuciatiOn on account OF the
character Of the claim, the want o! the con-
sent Of the claimant, or OF what occurred
subsequent to the signature OF the treaty re-
suting in the liquidation of the claim before
uuliuuidated, and an express promise 10 pay
the entire amount iiquidated, what took
place at the time of the final ratification by
Spain, the oath Of October, 1920, and by the
United States on the ODD of February, 1871,
must remove such debt.
ILL., That if any doub. yet exists it must De
removed by what preceded and existed at the
date of the ratification Of the treaty bv the
United States on the % of February, 1921.
". That we claim that we are entitled 70
demand ths amount OF the debt liqu!dsted By
Spain on the l9;h Of May, 1920, it being on
that day ccnclusively adjusted and obligatory
on Spain, and the United States having by
treaty, founded on VaIua ole consideration,
released her and assumed the amount Of
the debt.
V. That this being the amount which
Spain was then bound to pay with interest
from its adjustment, il she is released this is
the amount that the Uoitcd States are bound
to pay. That she, Spain, was bound to pay
it and with interest, wo have the authority Of
Mr.. Adams, in his official note of the 29th
April 1923. "Of the obligation" be says,
'.of the Spanish Government TO pay MIR.
Meade, with interest, the whole amount OF
this sun Acknowledged by its own tribunals
to be due, there Gao De no doub:."
VI. But il the United States oOnstrue the
treaty contrary to the demonstrated undar-
standing of Spain, wbea and IL consequence
Of it she ratified the treaty on the 2tth OF
October 1926, became bound only to pay the
pruporti0n " hich the debt would have been
entitled to receive out of the five millions
provided by the treaty, ADD tho tni'od States
had the right to release Spain without incur
ring the obligation to pay more than that
proportion, not on ' without our authority,
but against Our protest, tho claimant IS at
| least, entitled to thai sum now, although the
appropriation has bean expended.
Tho following is the conclusion OF MIR.
Juhnsou's able argument.
Should Spain be adjudged the debtor? II
that very question was submitted TO you by the
United States and Spain, to be determined on
principles Of national law. those liberal and
enlarged principles or equity which ever gov
ern contracts or engagementsb between nations,
would you, could you pronounce judgment
against Spain? Ii you did, what think you
would the world, the honest just-nnded
world. say OF such jodgmentl That 1t ser
we'd only to assist the United States in their
deceit of Spain, in supporting the injustice
! OF their having paitercd 20 her 10 double
sense; III holding cut 70 her tho word Of
promise to the ear aud breaking it 10 the
hope; 10 penetrating upon her, by means
Of false representations ard taso pFetcn-
siono, fraud, a clear nahed, gross fraud q.
| 1t is the deep conviction that tins stigma
is now lastly attached to our good name; 1t Is
the sense Of the deep stain that her inJn7uce
has already affixed a foul bloturon our ooun-
| ;ry's honor, that has weighed upon me
throughout this discussion. Which Of US has
not profound interest in preserving that
good faith and honor unmpalre5! The ma
! lional character represents IL part the char
acter of each Of us. That tainted, Te share
! 10 tho dishonor, that unspOtted. we share In
the honor. A"d wueu the Injustice involves
violation of plighted treaty faith, when It's
nature brings it before the community CT ma
lions where it mu-t be sternly rebuked, our
sen-iblity is bat the more wounded. Hest
| ing as our institutions do, aid can only do,
| on public virtue, with no real strength but
that moral strength which belongs to and
which is inseparable from SUCH institutions
administered in II spirit Of unquestioned,
elevated equity, it is especially important to
their wholesome and practical strength and
| Influence, that IN their Intercourse and deal
| ings gith men and nations nothing little, low.
cunning, schemng, nothing 1t iovo OF money
or love OF acquisitions of any kind should be
tolerated Virtue illustrated By simple jus
,ico ard perfect good faith, By g prompt com
plience with all promises express or Implied,
| is the surest, the only mcde OF earning a
really valuable, proud, national name, aud
of securing the respect and admiration OF
the world and maintaining our own. In
these, | think, it will be seen that IN the
| instance before you our country has been
heretofore strangely, bhudly, ioFgetiul. But
the day. | trust and believe has now come
when, by the judgment Of a ust aud enlight'
end tribunal, organ zcd for the very purpose
| of correcting her faults and vindcaurg the
RIGHTS of her cl.izeus when they have been IN
raded. the rights Uf tbs claimant Will be main
/ tanned and toe good name OF our country, To
Ms all of such ipestimabie velne, be nladc 10
stand. in this particular ar least, urque5-