These contracts remit customs duties on certain articles imported. grant lands to colonists who may be brought into Venezuela. give exclusive privileges and promise large sums of money to be paid from year to year. There was no ratification of the contracts by the Venezuelan congress whatever. and in the very nature of the case they were void. Twentyfive years before the termination of the contracts judgment was rendered by this commission for the amount which the contractors alleged they would have earned if they bad put tbeir ships on theline. which they did not do. and foranl amount thatthey would in their opinion have earned oi account of carrying emigrants into the country. cpon whom they were entitled to so msucl per capita. "Consequential damages!" Such a case was never heard of anywhere. The judgment of the American commissioner upon this claim is a. most remarkable document in its statement of law as well as of fact. and I will incorporate it in my remarks. Gentlemen who have studied law will be interested in the new rule for determiniig the measure of damages which this astute judge adopted for himself and by which he reached the conclusion that the sum of $250.000 should be paid to the claimants by the Government of Venezuela.
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emigrants