This left one more matter to be disposed of, that of executing the provisions of the commission of 1826. In compliance with this Congress passed an act, March 2, 1827, to carry out this agreement.[81] A convention was thereby called to meet in Washington July 10th and proceed with the consideration of claims, "allowing such further time for the production of evidence as they should think just." As soon as the claims were validated and the principal amounts ascertained seventy-five per cent of the principal was paid with the explanation that when all claims were settled, the other twenty-five per cent would be paid, if the fund permitted it. If it did not, then the remainder would be distributed in proportion to the sums awarded. In these negotiations, Langdon Cheves and Henry Sewell, who had only recently represented the United States in London, together with James Pleasants of Virginia, were appointed commissioners. They considered not only the claims on the definitive list but also those deposited in the Department of State and which had not been previously adjusted.
The conflicting interests of payments and the inconclusive evidence which were presented made the work of this convention more difficult. The records were very poor and contained little of the information desired. For this reason many claims were denied; especially was this true in Maryland and Virginia.[82] Many of the claimants of other States nevertheless were compensated. Seventy-five per cent was granted them, the sum totalling $600,000 being paid. This condition of affairs caused a clash among the 1,100 claimants, 700 of whose petitions on the definitive list were examined. Many other claimants were seeking evidence to secure compensation. They were not successful, however, for Cheves opposed the admission of hearsay testimony as well as the testimony of slaves. Well informed as to the progress of the commission, Congress passed an act May 15, 1828,[83] specifying August 31st as the last day on which the commission would meet. Of that entire amount awarded $1,197,422.18 had been paid to the claimants. The remaining sum was "distributed and paid ratably," to all the claimants to whom compensation had been made. The work of the Convention of 1827 thus ended.
Arnett G. Lindsay
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This dissertation is the result of the researches of Mr. A. G. Lindsay under Dr. C. G. Woodson at Howard University during the academic year 1919-1920 and was submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in candidacy for the degree of Master of Arts. Dr. C. G. Woodson was the chairman of this committee.
The following sources were used in the preparation of this manuscript: American State Papers, Foreign Relations; American State Papers, Confidential Documents; American State Papers, Wait's Edition; Annals of Congress; Diary of John Quincy Adams, in his Memoirs; Diplomatic Correspondence; Force, American Archives; Journals of Congress; Journals of Continental Congress; McDonald's Source Book of American History; Niles Register; Treaties and Conventions, Edition 1889; United States Statutes at Large.
The following works were also consulted: John Adams, Works; Van Tyne, The American Revolution; American Historical Association Reports; Babcock, Rise of American Nationality; Benton, Naval History of England; Channing, History of the United States; Ford, Washington's Writings; Ford, Jefferson's Writings; Fiske, Critical Period; Gibb, Administrations of Washington and Adams; The Journal of Negro History; Morse, John Adams; Naval Chronicle of England; Ramsay, History of South Carolina, Edition, 1809; Sparks, Washington; Moore, International Arbitration; Moore, Digest of International Law; Wharton, Digest of International Law, Edition, 1887; Halleck, Elements of Law; Wheaton, Elements of Law, Edition, by Dana.
[2] Ramsay, History of South Carolina, Edition, 1809, Vol. I, pp. 474-475.
[3] American Historical Association, Vol. I, p. 273. F. A. Ogg, American State Papers, Vol. IV, p. 304.
[4] Moore, International Arbitrations, p. 350.