The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-27
Qbe Gnaulrer.
RICHMOND, a7tb FEBRUARY.

CEai,n Of Beauma,ebais.--The claim on
which the memorial of Gen. Turreau has been
lately tubmtted TO corgrefs, ia dininSt from the
one which has 70 often reiounded in the Lepifl..
ture, IN the courts, and in the public prints of
sne'hia' IL is not claim upon our own
" fate; but the u. 8.
The claims sfthe heir of Caron lie B. upon the
u S. were partly OH accounted fome money adj
vances IN Europe but principally fer field ar
.hery' military itores and clothing, ihipped in
l776 and l777. Though the artillery and the
greater part OF the military flores appeared to
have been advanced by the kings ffores and
srienals, the French government officially mott
ned TO Congrefs in 1879, that the United
states mutt account with NJ. BeaL m ,rchais
TOR thofe fupplies.
The accounts were examined and ltated bv
tue AUDITOR OF the treatury in 1871, leaving an
apparent balance in favour of MIR. B. but with
inc re'ervation of million of livres tournois,
"n'ch The comptroller after due examination,
cohnoered as Juh charge again9 Mr. Beau
marchais.
Againit fbi5 deduction, the representative of
aaron dc b. protected; and applied to Co, rre(s
tor redrels. The petition was referred to the
Nohh'tee OF Claims; who on the 10th of
March 1906, reported unfayourabv Tn it
MS report was'rsnintted To France, and an
twered by frefh inftraeiions. The refut Of this
la the memorial of Gen. Turreau, la,elv con-.
municated to Cong,sfs, and now fuhmitted TO
the readers of the Enquirer.
ms affair may now he confidered as almoff
completely taken out of the hands of the apents
OF Ame'ie Eugene Beanmarchaia, the daugh-
ter OF Caron &c B. and erected into kind of
.ra"iac'ion between the governments them
ie'Ves. 1t has cohiequeutly aiIumed A degree of
importance, TO which II would not othrrwile
have been entitled.
The French mnifter's memorial on this Irh.
Ject is iuicep'ible of two different views the
5Prif IN which 1t is written, and the argument
winch 1t adduces. The frlt has principally en-
gtousd the attention of the public prints :;
whit the Ian has been fcarcely confdered
On the hrt topic we fliall offer bur Jingle
remark II may be, that the French yoyern.
.hent have been fimulated to the ufe of
&c" unciV'i expretlons by an indignant milf
truit OF the Juttice of the U. S. but it became
them alto recolleet that it is not the charsIfer ce
our countrYmen to require any incivlity of ex.
prehon TO periuade them 70 what they he
heVe TO be right, nor be- compelled into an ac
quiticencc IN claims, which they believe to he
uIJht by even the mot daring menaces Of the
mott formidable po~cr.-But thefe exprenions
arc certainly not 10 very uncivil or 70 pune
believe. W
| With refped to the juRiee of BIS claim il il
OF conftquence to confront the areumrn,s of
zen. bureaus memorial by the. following
facts: which are recorded on the report of the
committee of claims.
on the loth June, 1870, the lame day on
winch million was, with the kn0wIedpe. and
PROBABLY through the department of M. de
veseHneS, furni'hed by the government of
FRANCE 10 J0n'e person for the ufe of the United
Siates' the Eane Inns, "a million of Iivres) was.
oy 'he Count de Vergennes, paid to M. Bean.
J s. Irh IA h..
able to that mnter
When the American government applied.
'nrousn tS proper organ to the French Govern
h'en'' Toy the name oi fhe peIion to whom, th,
ihi'iion had been advanced for tbr;y ute the
'''",her or exterior relations fuggeiled as the
! feiu't OF his enquiries, that Mr. B<aumarch.is
was IhAf Perion, and accordingly furnifhed the
.rI'''ef OF the U. D. with copy of MIR. BIS
receipt for that fun.
II appears by letter of the French MiniAer
OF s'hahcr' that no other payment was made
by the royal treafury to the T. S. duriue IL, ,.or
Alto. '''' 'eN
1t appears from note of the French minic
ter that Mr.. BIS receipt and the GettIemeut of
MS account, were found on the gerry file of oa-
pers, (d2Bs''J and that that tie qvot eutit.S
" United States"
1T then 1t be commended that MFR. BIS rsecie.
OF the 10th of June, I77e, was for million of
"'Ns; EFSn W nun ny orders OF the king, for
an object OF secret political /srvice what hong
er circumttanCe than this one could be adduced
10 ihow, that this secret object of pocal ftryice
related to the Unifed States, or in other words.
that Mr. Is. was no other than the Eeret ooliti.
Cal agent of the king, for the accomoliih meut
OF iecret tervice to be rendered to the u lied
states But if he soaJ the agent of the king ::
and If in that political capacity, he hid eceive
the million of livres, have not the United States
right to employ his million as fet,.oF A.
gaIntt his own claim, in his commercial ca1a-
city?
This argument becomes ftl more fpecious.
when 1t is recoIIe6ed that the advance of mil,
lion at 10 early date as the 10th June, I77e.
would have actually at that time af1umed this
very character of Jseyef Political Erq,iee. The
french king had not fbeH openly avowed his in
tention of aiding the independence of the u.
5. aIthough he was dfpoftd to advance tb;, AZ
iItance. Ofcourfe, his aids and fub6dies would
nave been /eerft; and therefore advanced tbro'
lone fecret, confidential agent. That Beau
marchaS did /omstimeJ ACT in this very capa ity.
IS obvious from the very expeditions of this We
ry receipt of the 10th of June.
But though IT were Eeret fervice at that
time, why it may be demanded was the fame
myhery thrown over it atferqvardJp Whv
did the Count de Vergennes 70 long after re-
iuie to lay, thatit was rendered TO the u. s. par
tculariy after it had been openly ayowed Inv
Of he T.