New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-15
THE French ISOLATION CLAIMS.
TIE FORrY-FIRsT REPORT FAVORABLE TO TIE
CLAI,fANTs-WsTORY or THE CLAIMS.

TIE FORTY -flR>T REPORT fANbl~AblE ~ I'M
CLAIMANTs-HsTORY or THE CLAIMS.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE report of Sena-
tor FRYE in behalf Of the Senate Committee Claims
on the French spoation Claims has just been printed
and makes "A strong argument 10 favor Of the recently
ported bill provide for tine ascertainment OF these
claims From the report it appears that they were first
brought the attention OF Congress III loO2 III lS2b
under the administration Of JOm Quincy Adams all Of
the evidence touching these claims for the first time
completely presented Congress and from that time 10
this there has been unavorabe report TO either
house There have been, however made - both houses
forty favorable reports among which are one by John
HOLMES three by Edward Everett three by Edward Lv
in ,son one by Daniel Webster three by Caleb Cushing
three by Rufus Choae. four by Truman smith, one by
Hannibal Hamln and three By Charles sumner
Twice a bill for the relief OF the claimants has
no.sod both houses; one was vetoed by President Polk
as senate bin and vetoed by President Pierce
A. a House bll while the Legislatures or the thirteen
original states all have az various times passed resoll-
tons directing their Senators and asking their Hepresen
tatves TO take favorable action in behalf of these claim
ants The nature and origin Of the claims are thus
stated:
The colonies we're engaged in their terrible struggle for
independence. which seemed 20 hopeless that Washing
ton announced in formal letter 10 tOnEr>a that unless
some great and capital change took place, tue army
mus be- reduced or other OF three thlnss-sarvc
dissolve di-perse; when on February q, l''S this
dark cloud was dspeled by the proclamation
Of a treaty win France, signed Oy BeIJa-
guaranteed their sovereignty and independence,
absolute and unlimited and the United states gulr4n-
tecd France among otner things, her possessions IN
America and 10 further Hpuid.ed that IN case OF
runturr between France and England the reciprocal
guarantee should have fu force effect the moment
sucn war should break out France faithfully executed
her agreement q cost o. S2-O,OO0,OOU AMI at sacr-
ice OF thousands OF hNes ana the independence u the
United States achieved.
of years had hardly passed before the whole
OF monarcnca Europe was array d ia arms a-Alh5t
reuubleau France and the American Minister, OF All
Ministers Of foreign powers alone Remained IN Iars
war. and the failure Of the performance
of the guarantee contained IN the treaty
alliance France are All fallIar france mug
mani M what regarded breach OF fAlth anu grU-s
ngrattudr the part OF tie United states. realated
nv m. destruction or thousands ships and the
alteration American citizens, whose property was
inns destrOycd. The justice OF these Claims against
France was urged by United states aud admitted by
France and neither here nor there III Tue history OF al
th negotiations for their recovery was there ever de-
NAL bur France presented counter claim Tor national
,rror,- M cted uuon her by United States The
United states admitted the national wrongs, aud see
ING that the perpetual guarantee made " France
III the treaty OF alliance might forever
expose her TO such claims anxious to be relieved from
Inc obligations or the treaty, negotiated To That end
The result these negotiations was that France gave
the United states full release from all her national
counter claims, also from the guarantee contained IN
United states relieved France from ali the individual
claim, Of her citizens preferred IL was hgh price 70
in.t,Hcd il Our Government received the
benents Of this settlement, and never pad dollar
tO citizens, whose properly sue hl slcrinceu
10 secure it. The descendants VI tuOse citizens are to-
day before Congress asking Justice
The committee say IN conclusion
The gravity OF the and jusdce to both the Govern
ncnt and the claimants demand settlement Of the
yeXed questions involved, by an authority whose md
ugs shall be final and conclusive
The hill accompanying the report provides FOR the
settlement OF these claims by the Court OF Claims