Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-07

IN ..;.. an examination OF the
grounds on which il rests
s r;Il NOT sir, on this occasion say
what is INV own opinion > the truth of
hi. ALLEGATION Of the French Minister Of
foreirn affairs. 1t is not necessary tha,
: ,o' .hs,,,d 10 So Bu. it we'll becomes
gentlemen on the other slde OF the
house who consider themselves the guar
dams Of the honor Of this administration
-, well becomes US all, who are in
truth the guardians Of the ha''ona' he.
NOR to consider what opinion on this sub.
i.ct would be formed by dispasslona,e
man upon the evidence now before the
public: Such man must consider Tie
governments of the United States and
France at issue on point deeply affect.
inp the honor OF both. The question
between them, to bis mind, is pain ard
simple Did the French minister OF 70.
reign affairs declare positive official
faIseheod or has this administration
suppressed on important docsment with
the view of plunging this nation into
war with England!
There are, sir, many considerations
which would at once present themselves
TO the mind of such mar IN support Of
the truth of the Duke OF Bsssano's de.
claration. Let us adopt The tram OF res-
soning which he would naturally pursue,
and sec to what conclusion It would lead
uS.
In the first place then, this dec!ara.
ton of the duke of Bassano is formal
official declaration OF the French &c.
vernment made through its minister Of
foreign affairs. The American minister
at Paris Immediately on the receipt Of
tho declaration of the British govern.
ment Of the 2lst Of April, 1912, bya
note to tic duke of Bassans, solicits that
France would then make and publish
An authentic repeal Of her DEGREES. In
a subsequent official conversation be.
twesn Mr. Barlow and the French nj.
mister, the latter produces the decree of
the 2sth Of April, 1911, and explicitly
declares, thar that decree, being the au'
,hentic act required by Great Britain,
and furnishing complete evidence OF the
repeal of tho Berlin and Milan DEGREES,
had been msGe known to the govern.
ment of the United States. No declA.
ration could be more formal The per-
.onal veracity Of the French minister,
bis official character, and the faith and
honor Of the French government are all
pledged tor its truth. A declaration
.hus solemn.y made by one government
in its cfficial intercourse with another,
IL at all times entitled 10 credit:
But it may be urged. that the charac.
ter Of the French government tor bad
faith is such, that no implicit reliance
ought to be placed on its official acts
that its history shews, that it has always
been ready to sacrifice its truth ard no.
nor to lis ambition, and that it has always
been false, when falsehood would pro.
mote its views.
Sir-Snch considerations present
themselves with great force to my mind;
and no doubt, to the minds efthose gen.
tlemen who sit around mc.-With our
views of the character and conduct of the
French government, little is wanting to
convince us that it is capable of every
thing treacherous, and all that is disho.
no,able.-But. sir, these things ought
to be said with caution by the friends Of
this administration. They may crimi.
nate, where they are seeking to justify.
Shesch TO be continued.