San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-03


us; but both nations were "hard up" and
in trouble-suppose we ''can it square"
And finally we did; by vote of
twenty two to four in the senate-each
Of the obdurate four receiving spiteful
letter of thanks from Captain Bassett for
his firm though unayailing opposition.
But though angry and disturbed, the
skipper was not discouraged, for he was
given to understand that our govern
ment had merely bought off France with
these claims, and would now settle
them promptly and on equitable terms.
So DIR. Timothy Pickering, the secre-
tary OF state who drew the instructions,
told ti,e captain, and 80 the same person
wrote many years later, telling the story
succinGriy as follows: Thus the gov
eminent bartered the just claim of our
merchants on France to obtain relin-
quishrnento of the French claim.
On this view of the case it would seem
that the merchants hare an equitable
claim for indemnity from the United
States"
Z
Bassett took this view of the case" at
any rate, and spent part of several win
tiers in Philadelphia and Washington try
ing to get his money; and at five years
difference in time he was instrumental
in securing two favorsSle statements of
fact-one by Mr.. Giles in 1902, aud the
other by Mr.. Marion in 1907 But by
this time ne was growing old ana at
tached to his arborial stoop at home, SO
that in that year he formally gave the
claim to his only son, Windward Basse....
born aboard the unfortunate Sunbeam
on cruise to the Windward Isles in 1859.
Windward Bassett was the shopkeeper
Of the family, and was too busy and pros
porous to make good claimant. More
over, for o number of reasons, the French
claims fell into disfavor at this time, and
between 1918 and 1924 met the only three
unfavorable reports they ever encounter
ed. Windward Bassett did not neglect
the claim, however, by any means, but
shortly after the old shippers death,
which occurred in 1915, he put the bill,
shopkeeper fashion, into the hands of an
attorney for collection, and went prosper
ously ON selling kegs of nails, big shoes
and rum to his neighbors,
Windward Bassett, second, his oldest
son, would naturally have inherited the
heirloom on his fathers death in 1887,
but he had little more reverence for it
than his father had entertained, and so
had willingly assigned it to his younger
brother. Thomas Jefferson Bassett, who
loved politics and adventure, and wished
for nothing SO much as q good excuse for
sojourn in Washington.
Thomas jefferson Bassett, or old Tom
Bassett, as he was universally called for
the hast forty years Of his life, deserves
more than a passing notice. For the
greater part Of two generations he was
an object of veneration and mystery to
the Bassett family and to the townspeo-
pie generally. He was man of great
decision of character and fortisude Of
mind, but Of q sunny disposition and the
kindest manners in the world. In his
leisure, and one Of his peculiarities was
that he never seemed to have any bust
ness, he was fond Of telling stories, and
WAS in fact famous throughout the coun-
ty for his anecdotes and "reminiscences.
He had mixed with men, had travelled
widely, he observed keenly, had ready
and retentiVe memory, and, withal, the
gift Of story telling. And, what was
rather strange in a story teller, old Tom
Bassett was not liar; all of his remin-
iscences were genuine and honest, as in
deed his life in all respects was simple,
sincere and blameless.
Tom BassetS went to Washington for
the first time in 1887, the hopes of claim-
ants having been revived in that year by
a favorable report made to the senate by
Mr.. Holmes, buttressed by new evidence
and cogent argument. From that time
on he took an active interest in the
claim and in the claims, and was con-
cerned in the legislation upon them until
shortly before his death at q good old
age in 1879. Would that he had written
his memoirs of Fifty Years Lobbyist
at Washington AS it was, he merely
talked in the easy chair to eagerly listen
ing friends, instead of to the world
through stenographer; but that talk
was nevertheless an epitome of our po-
htical history, for he had known public
men. not conventionally through books
or by reputation, but from personal and
familiar intercourse.
During this half century, forty favor
able reports had been made on the claims
and they had passed both houses of con-
gress twice, only to encounter a presi-
Dental veto. 1t was reported that Tom
Bassett, like George Washington on great
occasions, broke over his habit of kind
To, 1,rbar, fla can0p1