The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-06-10
The senate mn authorizing the President
10 ~ahc Ncp,i.ai. on foreig" Nations,


/ The following is a copy Of lle bill intro.
! duccd in the Senate by Mr.. Mason, from
! committee on Foreign Affairs
/ 4 B,H 10 Re,,,ajn and Rsdi,ss Oabasts upon
! he Fog and Cat;ras of tts United AtHes.
BE il enacted by tho Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States of
America. in Congress assembled, That ia
ease Of iagrant violation Of the laws OF ma
tons, by ouirages upon the flag, soil or cti.
zens OF the United States, or upon their
property. under circumstances requiring
prompt redress, aud when, an the opinion Of
the President, delay pouid be Incompatible
ruth the honor and dignity Of tie RepuL!u
the President is hereby authorized 10 employ
such force rs he may deem ssSessary TO pre-
vent the pcrpe,ration Of such outragcs, and
/ TO obtain just redress and satisfaction for
the same when pcrpetrated and il shall be
his duty 10 lay the facts Of each case, toge,h'
/ er with the reason Of his action ia the pre-.
misses, before Congress, at the earliest prac.
ticable moment, for such further action there.
on as Congress may direct,
SIC. 9. That whenever, IN any case IN
| which by the laws OF nations the Goyern-
ment OF the United States may rightiully Is.
sue letters of special reprisal TO obtain ~
/ drcss and satisfaction for any citizen or citi
aens OF said United STATES from any other
Government, the State Department shall re
qure the claimant 10 file n written memorial
therefor In said department, setting forth the
nature Of the claim. AMI also 10 file in said
department M iull proofs thereof rs the ma
ture ol the case will permit said memorial
TO be verified by the oath Of said claimant.
Snc. 2. Tba, when ever the President
Of the United States Is satisfied that the case
presented il one in which the claimants are
entitled to such ,inedy, and that the same
should b. resorted TO. he shall cause said
memorial and proofs TO be transmitted by
the State Department TO the Court OF Claims
established hy the act entitled An act TO
establish a court for the investigation OF
claims against the United States, approved
February "a, 1856. in order that said court
may snmmariIy investigate said ease. and
ascertain aud report to said Department an
estimate of tho true and just amount Of
damages Of which said parties may be en-
titled 10.
SRc. 4. 1ha, said court be, and the
same IL hereby invested with authority and
jurisdiction TO make such investigation and
report in the manner aforesaid, and 10 that
end TO examine the claimants on oath, and
to require the production by them Of such
documents and other evidence as may be In
their power TO produce, and Is also author.
ized TO issue commissions 10 take such testi.
mony and compel witnesses 10 testify, AZ in
other cases before said court. under such
regulations az may be deemed proper TO cf.
feet justice.
SIC. .. That upon the report Of said
Cour, being made TO the State Department
and the return TO il Of the papers relating 10
said casc il shall bc the duty Of said DE.
par,men, 20 is.ue AMI cause 20 b. delivered
q Ldtre de Rcgu,e 70 the Government
against which the claim is preferred, accord.
ing 10 the law Of nations and dcsg'iof,ng
re1'mdJis time for he j'a 'dt,stadson of H,r
db ddm Provided, however. that IN any
case wherein by The stipulatiops Of snb-
sisting treaty. other or additional acts and
proceedings are required, such s,ipulations
hall also be complied with y
jgc 6. Tba, Il just satisfaction u snch
claim be not made or beforr the day dfsig
mated 10 SAID Letter lie Rf9geiF, or rras0ua-
bic cause therefor shown and verified. the
President II the United Stairs be au-
thor.sod and empowered t1issne in the name
Of he United States II America and andcr
the great @al thereof, pet,G 'e'fsr N re.
y1'i ago,na Me p,oprfy nnd ,gec'' 9f be
Goframent 0, SJts ~ dffaW', and n us
,ljgedS m cd,:en,. ooo,rfmg 70 its tatc of
ua'on,.
SEc. :. That in all casos 'sij letter Of
repri,al shall be- directed 10 comfoissio'Ied
oHicer or officers Of the navy Of the United
states, ard be cxecu,eI by him or them
with public vessel ~ vcssels o' said naty
1ndcr slch instructions AZ the President oi
'bc United State may direct
-rc. :. Tha, up1n the seizure of any
Troperiy under and By virtue of snch letter
II rrpfiSaI. the same shall be forthwith
brought into such port oi The United states
a. may he designa'ed in said letters, and de
tiycfe1 into the custody of the Aarabai 81
The United Stats u The district 10 which
rich port is situate and ihtreupJn the
District Attorney n the rni,ei states shall
forthwith procsr1, by libel. N the name Of
the United Stats, anJ Of said claimants 10
ihf District Court of the United Stats of
zach di,t'ict, 10 escc, the confirmation and
.ale ,hererf, in like manner A. puryned m.
Ter the practice and reOc'edlng- N c0urts
- prize according 70 the lar Of ns,ions
AID 10 all such eases the Government or
state against which saii ritter is issuei, a.
vel a. the known orn'rs of said property,
shsll b. named a. defendants IN such sui,
asd shall h. allowed 10 appear and conbzt
YaJ CAIN, and s.-1 'be liability of said
prT'rty therefor.
lgc . Tha, tcf're any letter, of rep-i-
a II. s-1f1 All ,veruD1 a. sforr.aid he