The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-01-04
FRENCH sPoLIATioN CLAIMS.
A Deer Lodge Citizen Considerably Inter-
ested.

On Feb. q, 1873, treaty was signed BY
Benjamin Franklin on behalf OF the United
States, and the proper representative OF
France, In which France guaranteed to the
United States liberty, sovereignty and indie.
pendence. The United States, among other
things, guaranteed TO France 1.-THE presen Mt
possessions Of the Crown of France in
America" and especially stipulated that IN
O case Of war between France and England
the reciprocal guarantee should have ful!
force aud effect the moment war broke out,
France kept her compact with the United
States ut an expense Of 81, BOO, 900. The pos
sessions Of France in America were the
West India IsIasd- and Granada and Ca.
ysnne. When u few years later all monar-
ehial Europe was arrayed In arms against
France, the latter country held that the
United States violated her pledged faith
and failed 10 show up according to treaty. In
retaliation for what she considered gross
breach of faith and Ingratitu lie, the French
msn-of- war destroyed hundreds Of American
ships and contScated the cargses. American
owners set up their claims for damages To
ships aud cargoes, and these, amounting 10
some twelve million dollars, became known
a. "the French spoliation claims" The
United States urged the justice of these
claims France admitted the destruction,
but justified her course and presented
counter claim Of national injury done by the
failure of the United States TO perform her
treaty obligations. The United States, seeing
the grave responsibility Of her former perpet-
uai treaty obligations to France, concluded
20 square one account with the other, 80 a
new treaty WAS made In which the two coun-
tries cancelled their grievances. This threw
on the United States the responsibility for
the ships and cargoes destroyed by France.
In fact France made IL n condition that the
United States should satisfy her own citi-
Gems for the damage no done.
As early n ia20 tn. claimants began work
Ing uptheir case against the United States
uader the above. Three times bills to adj
iudiosts these claims were passed through
Congress, but were vetoed by Presidents
Polk, Pierce and Buchanan on the ground
that the amount Of til. award was not
sufficient matter Of justice. In the 47tb Con-
grsss similar House aud Senate bills, having
In view tho pay Of these claims, we're
favorably reported aud were submitted to the
Court Of Claims, which IL authorized 70 re-
port on their validity and make report to the
present Congress for fiIal action.
There are now some one Thousand claim.
ants in the country for proportions of the
award. Among those whose ships and car
goes were taken In and confscated by tho
French lnrn-of-wsr was Captain Chalmers,
who lost three vessels aud cargoes. The
claim for damages In his cas-. amounts 20
over one million dollars. Among his heirs |
aud descendants entitled TO q big slice OF the |
award, IL one Is made, Is Phil. Il. Evans. OF
Deer Lodge. His brothers, DR.. w. II. and
Ed Chalmers Evans, OF Sedalia, No, an
other brother, T. ID. Evans, Of Fresno, Cal, |
and . sister, Mrs. Clark Joplin, OF Wild.
flower, Cal, viii help HIM enjoy the fortune
IL the government awards IL.