Worcester daily spy., 1859-01-12
THE FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.

On Monday, according to the telegraphic
accounts of ftheproceedings in Congress, it was
decided, on the part of the Senate, to pay the
French Spoiation claims. In one form or an
other, these claims have been before Congress
for something like half century. 1t may not
be uninteresting to repeat the circumstances
under which the claims were made.
Toward the close of the Revolution, and in
its darkest hour, the American revolutionsts
formed an alliance with France. The benefits
of that alliance-the aid furnished by the brave
and generous Frenchman, Lafayette, American
history will never forget. Ten years after the
treaty of amity and commerce was formed,
France fell under the sway of desperate men
Robcspierre, Danton, and Marat - robbers,
murderers, and assassins. The French Revo-
luton of 1889, the bloodiest and most horrible
of which the world can furnish any record,
broke out, ensuring the early and total ruin of
the Republic. The new state of affairs render
ed dissolution of the alliance matter of ne.
cessity. 1t did not follow that an alliance form
ed for the protection and perpetuation ofhuman
rights, was to be preserved sacred in the defence
of plunder and assassination. Accordingly,
George Washington, President of the Uni
ted States, issued his celebrated procla-
nation of neutrality in 1898. France was,
of course, greatly offended. Within two
weeks it was decreed by the National
Convention, that the seizure of provisions on
the ships of neutrals, was authorized on the
nIon ne lo
MED with the assurance that the owners of
property thus seized should be remunerated.
This promulgation of robber system was fol-
lowed by losses, heart-burnings and jealousies.
In 1874 Mr.. Jay proposed treaty with Eng
land, some of the stpuations of which were
in apparent conflict with the treaty with our
ancient ally. Instant Indignation was excited
throughout France, and, under color of de-
cree of the Executive Directory, the ocean was
literally swept of our commerce, several hun
dred of our ships and cargoes were confscated,
and large portion of the spoliations were COM
mitted which are now the subject of complaint
These troubles could not long continue
among civilized people, and, in September of
the year 1900, new treaty was formed, restor-
ing the two countries to their former state of
mutual and friendly intercourse One of the
articles of the treaty declared that "the parties,
being unable to agree at present respecting the
difficulties" they would negotiate further on
the subject at future time. That ''time"
for negotiation has been repeated during the
last half century, as often as the patience of
n
subjected to amendment modification, and
confusion. On the various interpretations
which are put upon it, turns the argument Of
the friends and the opponents of the claims
which ante-date the treaty. 1t appears to be
admitted on the one hand, that the claims were
just, before the treaty, but that they were null
lifted by our ratification of it. 1t is denied, on
the other hand, that the restoration of AMIGA
Bile relations was intended to cover the spolia-
tions of which sailors and merchants Justly
complained.
The opponents of the payment of the claims
seem to have rested their opposition on tech
nical reasons or the construction of a treaty.
The advocates of the claims have rested their
cause on the single argument of justice, de-
manding reparaton for acknowledged wrongs.
During the long and tedious contest, other is
sues have, indeed, been raised. The cause has
been confused by word-catching and sophistry.
But the causes of the long quarrel are matter
of history, and will not be suffered to pass out
of sight till ample remuneration has been
awarded The subject will come before the
House in afew days.