French Spoliations.
Mr. Bayard observed that a resolution offered some days since by a gentleman from New York, (Mr. Mitchill,) of considerable national, and of great individual importance to a large description of citizens, appeared to him to have been disagreed to more from considerations of form than substance; as the merits of the subject were not, on that occasion, brought into discussion. In order to meet the ideas of gentlemen who desired, in the first instance, to decide the principle whether indemnity ought to be made to our merchants, he submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law, to indemnify the citizens of the United States who, in carrying on a lawful trade to foreign parts, suffered losses by the seizure of their property made by unauthorized French cruisers, or by any French cruiser, without sufficient cause, in violation of the rights of American commerce, during the late war between Great Britain and the French Republic, and whose claims for indemnity against the said Republic were renounced by the United States, by their acceptance of the ratification of the treaty lately made with France.
Mr. Bayard moved the taking up the resolution for consideration; on which the House divided—yeas 39, nays 45. Resolution ordered to lie on the table.
About 3 o'clock the galleries were cleared, and the House remained with closed doors till 4 o'clock, when they adjourned.
Wednesday, February 2.
French Spoliations.
Mr. Hill called for the order of the day on the bill to prohibit the importation of certain persons, whose admission is prohibited by laws of the States.
Mr. Bayard requested the gentleman to waive his call for one moment, to enable the House to take his resolution respecting French spoliations, laid some days since on the table, into consideration for the sole purpose of giving it a proper disposition. His object, some days since, when he called it up, was to have it referred to a Committee of the whole House, not to urge its discussion on that day. His object was now the same, and his sole wish was that it should be referred, and a day named for its consideration. As, however, said Mr. B., it may be voted down now, as it then was, without any reasons being assigned, gentlemen will excuse me for calling the yeas and nays. I hope gentlemen will so far at least comply with the forms of justice as to suffer the case to be considered, whatever may be their ultimate decision upon it.
Mr. Randolph said he would ask the gentleman from Delaware, whether he had seen any indisposition in that House to discuss the subject? For his part he had seen none, either in the House or in any individual member. He felt no objection to take up the subject at any time, and to discuss, or rather to hear the gentleman from Delaware discuss it. He hoped, therefore, the gentleman would not persist in taking up the time of the House by calling the yeas and nays.