The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-17

j Taylor died, and three days afterward
Mr.. Fillmore's new Cabinet, inviola-
ton Of the pledge Of the Government
never to consent to such an arrangement,
accepted the proposition Of Portugal,
without the knowledge or consent of
the claimants. The Armstrong claim
was referred to Louis Napoleon, then
President Of the French Republic,
who decided, after he had become
Emperor Of France, in favor Of Por-
tugal, excluding the admission Of Por-
tugal and Great Britain as to liability,
and all evidence which the claimants
desired to submit. The hearing was
one sided one, not even the Ameri-
can Minister appearing in behalf of
his government, although Portugal
was supported by both Minister and
counsel. The claimants entered a sol
emn protest against the decision, and
appealed to Congress for relief.
The matter was favorably reported
on by committees Of both houses, and
the Court Of Claims, to which the case
was referred, decided the liability of
the United States to the claimants.
On a further hearing, with this
evidence before the court, one Of the
Judges who had before been in favor
OF the claimants, reversed his opinion,
on the ground that the evidence
established no claim in law against the
United States, and held that the claim
should be addressed only to the liber-
atty Of Congress. His change of
opinion caused Judgment to be
rendered against the claimants, and he
declared that Congress would doubt
less do justice to them. The report of
the Court was submitted to Congress,
and the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. in 1858, found that the Court
had supposed that the claimants, proof
had been laid before the arbitrator,
the Emperor Napoleon. when such had
not been the case. The Committee,
for these and other reasons, reported
in favor Of paying the claimants, and
fixed the sum at $7O,739.
The bill passed the Senate at the
second session Of the Thirty fifth
Congress but was lost in the House on
the last night Of the session because
the number of members present was
two less than quorum, although a
ikAeeJoAAoy fOVOu 1OI ~. Lilo
adverse report Of the Court of Claims
was confirmed by a resolution which
was passed in 1868, but it is said this
was done without any knowledge of
the previous action of Congress-.
The two Committees on Foreign
Relations in the present Congress
concur inareport giving the claimants
$7O,739, These reports are supported
by the opinion of the law officer Of the
State Department, furnished Feb. 8,
1879, in which he said that the
Government sis bound, under the
extraordinary circumstances of the
case, nequity, in morals, and in honor
to discharge this obligation They
are also supported by Secretary Evarts,
who said, in letter to Senator
Window, Chairman Of the ISenate
Committee on Appropriation Feb. Is,
1879: "This Department. has no
hesitation in approving of the justice
and equity Of the claimants appeal to
his own Government. . Congress in
1918 gave to the officers and crew of
the Armstrong $4,000 in recognition
of their yalor, but this gift is held not
to affect the claimants, rights. Capt.
Reid and his brave sailors, have passed
away, but the present representative Of
the original claimants is said to show a
rare perseverance in his attentions to
those who have votes to cast for and
against him.