The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-08-18

even 20 vicual in ports of the United States; and
later in the year the United States entered into
consular convention with France, that French
consus nd vieeconsuls in the United States should
have and exercise power and Jurisdiction board
French vessels in civil matters
These treaties were the voluntary stipulations by
the United States with France for her aid and as
sstance in securing and maintaining our national
life. independence, and liberty.
What was the actual cost to France of these trea-
ties? Omitting from the calculation all considera-
ton OF life and suffering which of indepen-
dence cost France. and confning the estimate to
dollars and cents, France expended in our behalf
S2S0O00O00. This sum measures the eounter-claim
which France in after years justly set up as an offset
to the claims Of our citizens now under eonsidera-
tion. We emerged from the clouds that lowered
upon our house" new nation, 10 become in after
time the most powerful people on earth.
! I have heretofore stated what the United States
pledged to France in IT'S Six years after, on No
yember H. 1874, by the Jay treaty with Great Bri.
tain every pledge and promise heretofore made to
France was willfully and deliberately nullihed
By that treaty we consented to receive British ships
into our ports at time when Great Britain was at
war with France, and thus extended to our ancient
enemy the hospitality and privileges we had pledg
ed solely to our first friend.
| The United States was then at peace and prosper
ing, but not so with her ally and friend All Europe
banded together, surrounded FEanee with their
armies and grdled her people with the fires OF war
and devastation. The natives of England blockaded
her ports and to the horrors of war added the dan
ger of starvation to whole nation In this ext
ty Of her people we abandoned our former ally and
in violation of our treaty pledges the 22d of May
1908, proclaimed our neutrality.
The first unfriendly acts committed by the French
had been apologized for and indemnity promised
but the ftful passionate and excited national con-
vention responded to President Washingtons proc
lamation of neutrality with decree retaliatory on
Engands effort to starve France arresting all neu-
tral vessels laden with provisions and destined to an
enemys port The decree aYowed its violation OF
neutral rights, but justified itselfby promise of
indemnity to neutrals who might suffer byits ope
! ration" American commerce, frightened by this
decree, hesitated to take the sea and encounter
the dangers that crowned every wave and lurked in
every breeze. To reassure our people and revive
our commerce. the Secretary of Sta te, Mr. jefferson
came forward voluntarily with the assurance of pro-
lection and redress in his circular of 9th August
1893 and the President. in his message of December
| 5, 1893 iterated the promise that
Due measure should be taken to obtain redress of
| future.
Thus at the very beginning of these spoilations
France promised indemnity and the United States
plegded its honor that proper proceedings should
be adopted for the reefo of her citizens " and thus
before lhe Jay treaty signed the ancient friend
ship between France and the United States stood
guaranteed for indemnifcation for unintentional
and unavoidable outrages upon our commerce. But
the bad faith on our part which France recognized
in our treaty with our ancient foe and her adver-
sary, and the deliberate abandonment of all our
pledges and promises to her by the "condescension
] nf lao t,
ancienttyrant" caused her to unleash her cruisers
to prey upon our commerce, and the declaration
went forth that
The French Republic Will treat neutral vessels
either as to contseaton, searches, captures in the
same manner as they shall suffer the English to
| treat them.
Edict followed edict in rapid succession while the
proesations of diplomacy failed to effect either re-
lief or remedy. Our relations thus continued until
more imposing diplomatic effort was made in 1877
| by the special mission of Mr.. Pinckney Mr. Mar
shall and Mr.. Gerry
In respect to the depredatioas our commerce
The
table mode of examining and deciding the claims
of our citizens and the manner and period of max
lug compensation,
And the plenipotentaries were instructed
Not to renounce these claims of our citizens nor to
stpulate thatthey be assumed by the United States
Government.
Thus again were all these claims recognized by
our Government and placed under the protection of
our diplomacy.
That mission of eminent citizens in its efforts for
indemnifcaton encountered the 1asterly ability of
Talleyrand, who, in reply to the statement of the
claims of American citizens, brought forward the
"national" counter-claims of France and against
the value of despoiled commerce and conflscated
vessels valued at s5OOOOOOO profered the $3.50 OOO
900 which our war of independence had cost France
But while thus putting forward the counter-claims
of France, Mr.. Talleyrand admitted the justice Of
our claims and inquired whether, If they were ae
knowledged by France. we could not give a credit
as to payment, say for two years?"
That diplomatic commission returned home with
out satisfaction and the Congress set foot prepa
rations for to vindicate our commercial rights
and to protect our people against like spoliatons
Washington was made Lieutenant General, and by
act of May 2S, 179S defensive naval measures were
authorized to prevent depredations on vessels be-
longing to our merchants. In a further effort to
stop "depredations on American commerce." the
act OF June 49, 179S suspended commercial relations
with France, and by act of June 25, l79S, Amer
ican merchant vessels were authorized to resist
search seizure by any French vessel, and finally
by act of July 7th, 179s the treaties of I77s with
France were declared annulled because 'the just
had been refused"
These were some of the vigorous measures set on
foot by this Government to assert and maintain the
rights of these claimants and they had the effect Of
inducing the French directory to invite the reopen.
ing ofnegotiations. President Adams availing him
self of the overture, appointed ChiefJustce ELS
worth, Mr.. Davis. and Mr.. Van Murray plenipoten-
tiaries to France, and instructed them that
The principal points, indeed all the points, WERE
first indemnify for spoliations of American COM
merce; second, the unquestionable wrong of seizing
American vessels for want of Toie feQaipage or de-
scrptvelist Of the crew. third, the refusal TO renew
the treaty guaranty of the French West Indies.
These were the ultimate intrusted to our negotia-
tors who were instructed to open negotiations with
the positive and emphatic announcement that the
indispensable condition Of the treaty" was to be
"full compensation for all our losses and damages"
sustained by illegal captures and condemnation and
the instructions end as they began, with the inIunc
ton to bind France to pay secure payment of
the sums which shall be awarded"
Thus, under the mission of Mr.. Morris and of Mr.
Monroe, under the triumvirate plenipotentiaries
headed by Pinckney and Ellsworth, the purpose and
object was the naturalization of American citizens
for spoliations by the French.
The last diplomatic mission fround Napoleon First
Consul who appointed his brother Joseph Bonaparte
at the head Of the French commission. At the very
first meeting April 2, the American ENJOYS pro
posed
An arrangement to ascertain and discharge the
equitable claims OF citizens of either nation upon
the other whether founded in contract, treaty, or
the law of nations.
Thus again, at the very threshold of negotiations
these claims were brought forward by the represen
tatives Of the United States The reply ofthe French
plenipotentiaries was that
The first object ofth negotiations ought to be the
determination Of the regulations and the steps TO
be followed for the estimation and indemnihcatioR
of injuries for which either nation may make claim
for iIself or for any of its citizens.
Thus not only individual" but national claims,
not only the twenty million losses of American eiti
GEMS but the of counter claims of France
met in this last diplomatic effort, The issue pre-
sented was the setof of "individuar' with nation
all claims The American envoy had no authority
to recognize the national" claims Of France the |
French envoys would not consider the individual
claims Of American citizens without the 'national"
claip of France were also recognized The failure
Of negotiations was imminent and the danger of war
threatening.
The divergence widened when the American en-
voys proposed to recognize the treaties Of IT'S as