Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-17
CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, June 10.
H OUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES.
CConciuded from our hsf.)
FRENCH DEGREES.

FRENCH DEGREES.
Mr.. Webster rose as he said, to call the at
tention Of the House to- , subject ofconsiderable
impor,ance-a task which he hoped would have
fallen into tie hands of some other gentleman
better qualified than himself to under AXE it.
lie then read the resolutions which will be
topSd kS,ow. In offering these resolutions, it
was khis intention, he saidAto enter into any
discussion or rgunen or to advance any pror
position whatever, ON which gentlemen could
adopt different views or take different sides.
lie would merely remark, by wvk of explana-
ton, what would be remembered Is all, that
the subjects 20 which these yesolA Mons refer.
red, were intimately conneGis4 witNeh he cause
of the present war. The rev0J The or
ders in council of Great Britain tas The main
point on which the war turned, arr it had hccn
demanded Cor the reason that thdA Wrench de-
crces hRd ceased to exist. This N was the
point at issue. Mr.. w. remarked 81 what he
termed the contradictory evidence on this head,
the letter OF Mr.. ChampaSuy OH one hand as
serting the revocation, the speech of the Emp
error to the free cities on the other, denyirr it
the decisions of the French admiralty courts
on one hand and opposite decisions Of the sane
courts on tie other. The whole matter, i'm
short. was involved in doubt. But, on the>de-
c%laration of war, and not until then, n decree
appeared repeating the French DEGREES a de-
cree which, it issued, had lain dormant, mere
6rutu,n Juinien, until after the war commenced,
and then oaly made it's appearance. In March
last, it would also be recollected, the President
had communicated to Congress, Immediately
before its adjournment, certain correspondence
between our government and its minister i'm
France, 10 prominent feature of which cores
pondence was, that, in an interview between
our minister and the French secretary for for
eign affairs, which took place about the 1st of
Nav, 1912, it was stated by the latter, that the
xlacrno in rtact,Dn hal ha.n -,t -, H. l--1-
of our minister in France, ahd transmitted 10
the French minister in the Unite! States, at the
time ut which it bore date. To shed light on
this TRANSACTIONS, Mr.. w. said it was that he mo.
we'd these resolves, in the discharge of what he
deem.d q duty to his constituents and his coun-
try. lhe declaration of the French minister
had a great bearing on the reputation of the
country--on the reputation II those persons
who in their official ci,ara, tersrepresented the
dignity of the nation. To place their conduct
in its proper light, he presented to the consi-
Iteration ofthe House thsffollowing resoluti-
ons-
Resolved, That the fresidepsoe thc United
States be reqaested q fpormthis House, un-
less the pubic tptersH sNou'd.i Nm his opinion,
and in what manNe4{hc Sfse btelligence was
given to this govSrfRnent of thc&decres of the
government otFranes bearing date on the 9Th
ofApril, 1911, andnR& Importing to ibe 4 defni-
tive repeal of the I&eSses ofNesslin Odd Mi
Ian" I'M 80
Re.olvse, That khAP%ssiaent offbe United
States be requested q intOrTuI{4fs House, whe-
ther Mr.. Russell Hate Charge d'Afiaires of the
United States at Inc court Of France. hath ever
admitted or denied TO his government the cor
RICHNESS of the declaration of the Duke of Bas-
Sano to Mr.. BarIpw, the late minister of the U.
States at that court, as stated in Mr.. Barlow's
letter of the 12h of May, 1912, to the Secreta-
ry of State, "tbst the said decree of April 28th
1871, had eeuTcommunicated to his (AIr. Bar
low's) predecessors there I" and to lay before
this House any correspondence with MIR. RUS
sci relative 70 that subject, which it may not
be improperto communicate; and also, any
sorrespondehce between Mr.. Barlow and Mr.
Russell, on that subject, which may be in pos
session of tie Department Of State.
RxoipeG, That the President of the United
StateXbe requested to inform this House, whe-
ever informed this goyef1%ent # thee existence
and to lay Before the hbuse any cofrespondence
ter relative theretoi vhish tha President may
not think imprope4t6 Zoe communicated
ResOived, Thattb D e Presidc1e of the United
States be requestedstp cbmS~dnicata q this
House any other INFORMATION which ma be in
his possession and whichfhe May not deem il
injurious to the public NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., re.
Iative to the said decree ofthe. 28th of April,
1911, and tending to show at what time, by
whom, and in what manner tho said decree was
first made known to this government or to any
eEits representatives or agents.
Resoived, That the President be requested,
in case the fact be, that the first info oil
the existence Of said decree Of the 28th ofhpriI
1911, ever received by this government or any
ofits ministers OF agents, was that communi
Gated in May, 1879, by the Duke Of Bsssano
TO Mr.. Barlow, and by him to bis government.
as mentioned in his etterto the Secretary o
State, of May 18th, 1912, andtte accompany
ing papers, to inform this HousA whether TIL,
government of the United StateR hath ever re
ceived from that of France any explanation o
the reasons ofthst decree being cdhcealed from
this government and its minister FOR so long
time af;er its date and, ifsucleexplanation LA
been asked by this government e has been omi;
ted to be given By that of FrarGe, whether thi
government has made any REM nstrance, or ex
pressed any dissatisfaction to the government
Of France, at such concealmenG
Mr.. Grosvenor having required the Yeas an,
Nays on the question of proceeding now 4
consider the resolution, they were found to b
as follows: ~
For consideration 1872
Against il %
The resolutions haxing been again read
G. Mr.. Bibb said ne was persuaded that on eve
~ proper occasion the most perfect dispositio
would be manifested by the House to ask for
py information solicited by one OF its member
1t was unquestionably their right, and unde
certain circumstances their duty, TO ask for IL
formation of the Executive, in relation to pull
- - l,s Il til. sec