The national Republican., 1867-02-27
UNITED STATES CouRr OF CLAIMS

UNITED STATES COURT OF CLAIMS
TUESDAY, February %, 1857.
On motion of Mr.. Norton the Solicitor Edward
Fitch Esq, of the city and State Of New York,
was admitted an attorney and counsellor of this
court
Richard W. Meade, administrator, &c VS. Tho
United States. The argument Of this cause was
opened by Mr.. Bradley for the claimant.
Adjourned till tomorrow at II o'clock a. IN.
The Meade claim redivipus-a nep trial 'ciM a
VisV 10 taking ii 10 tie Supreme Court Tie
amount and interest 81 500, 000-RIchdrd W
Msade, adniHtStratoT, Us. the United StateS.-The
petitioner in this ease is commodore in the navy
and brother of Maj Gen. Meade, of the army, who
has been substituted as claimant in the case In
place of Richard W. Meade, deceased, their father
Richard W. Meade, deceased, was a native.born
citizen of the United States who many years ago
went to Spain and became extensively engaged In
commerce with that country. lie was there dur
Ing the invasion Of tho French under Napoleon
and continued to reside there until the year 1921
While there he entered into numerous contracts
with the Spanish Government after the year 1902,
and before the year 1919, which involved very
large amounts Of money, and his means and re-
sources contributed largely to the support of that
Government during Its contests with the French
By this means Spain became largely his debtor
After the restoration Of the king Of Spain to the
throne, Mr.. Meade was seized and imprisoned by
order Of the Government, confined for q long period
Of time, and finally released only by reason Of tho
active interpOsition Of tho Government Of tho
United States in his behalf. Much of the history
Of that event will be found in the 4th vol Amercsn
State Papers Foreign Relations, PIP. 7ls, 49, 72O.
Immediately after his release, on the 9th Of
June, 1918, while at Cadiz, he addressed n letter
to Mr.. Adams, then Secretary OF State, informing
him Of hint he had received to the effect that his
just claims against the Government Of Spain, and
such further sum Ss be might advance, might be
satisfied by cession of lands In tho FlOridas, and
desiring to know whether that would interfere with
the designs Of the United States. On tho back Of
which Mr., Monroe, the President endorsed mem.
orHndum to the effect that such cession would
be recognized II made after a certain date, not
specified, and Mr.. Adams, on the 18th September,
1878, in reply, Informed Mr.. Meade that, in tho
then pending negotiation, provision should be made
for the eventual adjustment and satisfaction Of the
just claims Of the citizens Of the United States and
that every attention should bo paid to those Of Mr.,
Meade.
On the 18th January, 1919, Mrs. Meade, in bo.
half Of her husband, transmitted to Mr., Adams
statement of his claims Spain, which will be fol.
lowed by a specific statement Of the amount due
from the said Government, sh wing the amount
due him on hbramieHtdS (treasury notes. then In
| his possession, on contracts, on damages and on
bills received from said Government, as we'll as his
reclamation on the score Of the unjust "impTisOn.
ment suffered by him for two years" The aggre.
gate of the claim amounted in 1919, to about $4OO,
900, and now amounts to about 81 500, 900.
The Government Of Spain appointed a commits
sion to investigate the claim, which reported in Its
| favor.
In 1919, the Governments Of the United States
and Spain entered into treaty by which, In con-
sideration of So 900, 900, tho Government Of the
United States Internationally released the Gov
ernment Of Spain from any liability on claims Of
citizens Of the United States the United States
undertaking to satisfy any claims Of her citizens.
A commission was appointed BY the Government