The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-08-18
French spoliation Claims.
Speech of Hon. Frank 7. Shaw, of Maryland
in the House of Representatives, We'd
nesday, August 8, 1888.

]
| The House being in Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union. and having under consdera
tion the bill (H R. 1886 making appropriations
supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June SO 1855 and for prior years.
and for other purposes
Mr.. Shaw said:
/ Mr. Chairman The consideration and discussion
of the French spoliation claims, beginning in 1902
have continued almost without intermission from
that time to the present day. The original claim
ants their children and many of their grandchild-
ren have passed away, but the claims live with
the vigor and strength of youth which neither time
nor neglect have abated or destroyed. Having sur
vived the yetoes of two Presidents, these claims to-
day find favor in the popular mind as to their just
ness and equity and their extraordinary vitality
can only be accounted for in their remarkable char
acter and history.
Based upon the treaty with France of 177S which
treaty made our Independence possible they in
dissolubly linked with the names and events which
make our early history ilustrious and grand. Yet,
Notwithstanding these claims the first in point
of time the most interesting in matter Of history.
and the greatest in amount of all the spoliations by
foreign nations on our commerce. they are the last
to be recognized and satisfied.
From Great Britain, from Spain, Naples, Denmark,
Mexico South America, and again from Great Britain
our merchants have recovered their claims for spo
liation of their ships and cargoes Every foreign
power has been made to do justice and render in
Identification in this behalf, and France too was
called to account and permitted to set off her claims
againstthe United States for these individual claims
yet the sufferers are still without compensa tion al
though the duty of indemnity was transferred from
France to the United States.
The story of these claims is a chapter in our
national history of which we have no cause to be
proud Originating in an alleged mistake which
confounded American with British ships, on ac-
count of the same language of the sailors which
manned them, the ontrages by the French 10 nag
and ship and persons multiplied until they involved
our citizens In the loss of many millions OF dollars
pn, fov anterior IN these occurrences Franco
Ma a, an anormons outlav constituted largely os
au as gu :.
the tFeasuEe auu ooou Va hei PeoPiS W ne Suceess
of American independence In the dark days Of
-. -, - x-o.,..o,.,,, -, ~ -
tnat Gay until tie sun u rose On 'ne VIC
torious arm lies OF America her zeai ana neip knew
neither aoatemen. nor cessseioh.
While the American army az valley forge STOOD
on the very verge of dissolution, "bareiooted and
otherwise naked, with their hunger threatening to
break through stone WALL and washington pre-
senting to Congress the dread the army
10 starye, dissolve OF dlsappeaI tne pienipotenta
RES Oh france ahe she Ohileu S'ates executed the
treaties OIL guaranty ana OF aihahee ana commerce
OF February lfls- inc treaty OF guaranty was one
OF mutual guaranty-france guarantying our inde-
pendenee and conquests' and the United states
guaranying the colonial possessions OF France-and
the pledge OF guaranty was forever. Ihe terms OF
the guaranty II Is wen 70 s'a1e IN its own words
me TWO parties guaranee a1 ior tne pres
wit the United States to His Most Christian Majesty
the present possessions of the crown of France in
america as wei as those i may 1y aeqnire , oy the
maiesfv enaranties. on his part to the Tinted States
their liberty. sovereignty and independence as well
in matters of government as commerce. and the ad-
ditions and eonquests that their confederation may
obtain during the war from any OF the domains now
or heretofore possessed Dy Great Britain IN Nortn
And it was further stipulated that
In case of rupture between France and England
the reciprocal guaranty shall have full force and
nsce tbe ne snsraDy not