New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-18
THE FRENCH sPOLIATION CLAIMS.
THEIR JUSTICE UPHELD AND TIE PRESIDENTS
VITO CRITICISED.

WIZ nun ''''f'''
To the Editor 81 Tho Tribune.
SIR. tn. veto message ~ the President covering
the French spoation claims Is 80 misleading that
ss YOU have published /, In fill. | vcntur" In The
interest ~ truth AMI justice 70 ask FOR space for
some observation IN regard 70 H.
The great controlling fact In the situation. into
which the question vheihcr We were NJ war with
France or not docs no' enter. Il That the lnit"'
states took claims - IL. citizens and with them
bongh, immunity from demands which France was
messing asains, us AMI for release from which she
hsl Offered A large sum OF money: and. having made
use OF this properly ~ private individuals FOR the
bcn,n, O, tho whole has never paid FOR II. That IS
the whole case.
80 va.iI dld the Government at the time regard
the claims OF our merchants that II sent special
commission 20 France 10 collect them, and In the
negotiations which ensued this government in con-
sheraton ~ being freed from tho demands OF
France agreed 70 assume and all assume the la
biiiics OF France 70 our cz ms. which she admit
ted -hc coul n made 10 pay.
Napoleon. debating 10 tis secretary AZ 81 Helena
said: "Th, suppression Of this article a, once pm,
an end 20 me privileges which France had pos.
sc-scl by the treaty OF IT'S and annullcl the just
claims which America might have made for Injuries
done In time OF peace This was exactly what the
First Consul had proposed 10 himself in fixing these
two points cquiponderating each other Wiihou,
this II would have been Impossible 10 satisfy tho
merchants or the nirl states ana 10 Danlsa from
their memory the .osS"s they had suffered The
First Consurs ratification Of this treaty was dated
Juy 49, 1901 and declared that II was to be clearly
understood that the suppression OF Article II an
nullcl all claims FOR lniemnlty" etc, which not
only settles the question Of the Justice OF the Gains
but establishes the fact that dii exist with
France when they arose.
As soon as the United States assumed these OBJ
legations the owners began at once trying TO col
lect them. and men IKE Alexander Hamilton
and Chief Justice Marshall. who had taken part
in the negotiations and knew all the facts urged
their payment az just and right From that time
until now those to whom they are due have never
relaxed their efforts 10 have them paid. and tho
greatest and best in public he who have
studied the case OF different politics like
Madison. Clay. Webster. Calhoun. Everett and
Sumner. have favored them the latter having made
a most able report them which has never been
successfully controverted The position OF the SUI
prcme Court Is wholly msrepresented In the mes
sage 1t decided only that the claims were not
strict legal demand but in the sugar cases also
lately decided It is held that Congress has excu-
sve Jurisdiction over Just such equitable demands
and that 1t Is It's duty to pay them In another
respect the message grossly mlsrepresents. 1t
the aggregate amount will probably be s2Ooo.oo
This Is "A guess made by department clerk, from
whom the hgures came, to raise prejudice. Careful
estimates show that the amount In no case can ex-
After nearly a century Of waiting during which
time bills for the relief OF the claimants had been
repeatedly reported and twice passed both houses
Congress said to the claimants, I'VE have estab-
lished a court for the settlement of just such qucs-
lions go into IL and have all the facts and law Of
the case tudiclally determined and reported to W. "
with OF course. the implied promise that II the
decision was favorable. the claims would be paid.
The claimants. accordingly. at large expense. EN-
ployed the best counsel and IN thered and printed
their evidence, and "A trial followed I'm the Court
of Claims with able and protracted arguments.
In which every possible phase OF the question was
discussed. The Court. an able and upright one.
specially learned in all governmental questions,
decided unanimously that the claims were just and
should be paid Despite the fact that subordinate
I'm the Department OF Justice whose Incorporate
zeal against the claimants led him. after having
fulfilled his duty In arguing them to 20 10 the
CAPITOL and lobby against them. Congress appro-
priated for Il larre number and Mr.. Cleveland him
self has signed bills containing small amounts for
them. This veto message Ia simply rehash OF a
brief of the same clerk in the department, a man
incompetent to make living outside. which the
Cour, had carefully considered and wholly dis
regarded.
CHIEF Justice Marshall. living at the time , and
said the claims should he paid. Mr.. Cleveland.
having never studied the matter and with de-
partment clerks brief for guidance. proceeds. while
iecturng Congress for lack OF honesty and patriot
ism 10 rob deserving creditors OF the Government
OF money due them for 100 years. which Congress
had voted to pay Patriotism and honesty, for
sooth, r. y
Washington ID. c.. June & 1896