Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-21

eli
as was cvnced by ,hSyoe of the Conceal Asssbiy, and
particularly ~ The napperin which il was pivcn
My affairs requiring Presumed Immediately NV s,aon
the bar, aud with fair prospect success was al
no time rich; my landed Inheritance in N.s,no,.,a,
county smcll, hut stall something Bv The sale
aud investment of the amount received for IL in Other
lands, asI arrived az maturity had laid Nh, f,u-
daton of independence and shouldhave attained it, had
pursued the pro of the law years ionqe for
possessed At the time of my appointment my frst mis-
sion IL France of 1894 property than now hold
aud owed comparatively nothing.
A, this m, occurred WHICH produced prea,
excitement throughput Union by the treaty Of ST,
Ideponso between France and Spaiu the latter had
ed the former louisiana, and had suppress as is he
lievcd of the then Government III F,nrce
rirposc at New Orleans the right which had been
secured by treaty with Spain of 1895 The ,xc,e
ucut pnduced by that act was universal throughout our
Union aud particularly ardent in the Western country the
commerce OF large portion of which, rpendcn, on
the free navigation of the Mississippi, The aggression
justified and many were prepared risk it, by rcnv-
ing the obstruction by force.
The Presden, preferred diferen, policy lie resolved
To make experiment of pacific character, by spccal
mission, with Intention To resort 10 depended
him. should that mission fail. that emergency he
demanded service. and nominated and appointed to
Francs and Spain, without consulting me, but with per
feet knowledge tina should decline the mission
Independent of any favorable opinion, which the Pres-
dent might have entertained of me personally, arising
the very friendly relations which had long existed
tween in public and in private life, there conside
raons known the public which, doubtless had weight
with him in making the appointment My zeal,
the free navgaton Of the mississippi had been shewn
several important occasions As far back the year
1896, when member Of the Revolutionary Congress- Iiad
senuousy opposed projected treaty with Spain, by which,
had been concluded, the of that river would
been suspended for term and right thought,
impaired 1, was known that the paper which was
presented by the Delegates of the State, opposition to
that proect+ mention this with no uu.rieud-
~ feeling Mr.. Jay, then Secretary Foreign
fairs ior no one thinks highly than have done, aud
still do of his talents Revolutionary services, and cene-
raj merit which take this OCCASION, with pleasure, to de-
Glaze.
Another instance had occurred, in which ny ZEAL in "a
of the free naegainn of this river, been dsDa
ed In January 1875, in my frs, NISSAN o France ai
period when with the French Government
of most friendly France aud Spau beng the ar
war, and tine armies of the Republic in every
quarte and particularly in Spain, negotiation being
sought by the latter, and existing between Govern
ments, presented note to the French Government, in
which urged from motives of policy which ought have
weight with that Government, the of lis influence
to secure In the free navigation of that river either by
extending 1t To negotiation then inrusted to MIR Short
Minister Madrid by providing for it in its own
treaty These facts being we'll known Union could
not fail to have their effect, in every quarter,
which should carry with me into the me- outiont
Tie presumption was equally strong that should be well
received by the French Government As my eff IT'S TO pre-
serve good understanding between the United States and
France, i'll nay former mission, had produced some effect
the policy ofthat Gov rls the United States
and much TO its dispeasure, after it had decided on
change of policy, II natural that the inflicted
on me by my own Government, by my recall the pre
sumption that had failed to perform my duty it, and
country, in that very circumstance should excite some
feeling in the Government of France, to me its
confidence, which had been withdrawn Tire Mt sill II,
power all of the Revolutionary charaxier with most
of whom personally well Acquainted and had wiz
messed their greatest difficulties was the fl 81 minister
WHO had been presented to the Rcrtc had reld three
great movements against them those of Gerinal of
Prairia and Vimdeiairc-in the latter hch Barns
commanded tire National Guard, and aporon 3onapartr
acted under him. This occurred NJ the when the
Convention engaged in the Of transferring the CO.
vernmeut from itself the Directory, and 10 the two
Councils was i'll the Hall OF the Convention ius before
il
and under the guidance, of of the members who lei
me through the Carousc by their cannon, whose matches
were lighted be airing up rs the Rcicu where
those of the sections pesed and lighted against Them
had scarcely passed the latter when the action common
red, about O'Clock, p NJ and which continued till 10
at night No other citizen OF Union the same re-
laUn them Sec in the View, &c. three Letters TO the
Secretary of State, in which give those three
movements viz: April l4th 1895 p l45 June 11 1875
page l68; and OctobeF 90, same year, page EGG.
1t might fairly be Inferred therefore, reasoning ~, the
best pEopentes Of our nature if tina; Government cGud
he induced 10 yield 10 demands, that would be erat
heh 10 make the accommodation, at the instance one
with whose good wishes they acquainted and bor
they had injured They had before no arnort,u,tv n
make TO him any repnraiion. The day after took my
leave of the Directory, being able FOR the Uni
ted States lmimg the Winter, and unwilling to remain
spectator of the distressing which followed
ceeded To Holland and remained there unit, the Spring at
which time hurried through France Bordeaux from
which port sailed.
My reception by the French Governments in my second
mission, my return in 1903, was as Kind and C.,II
IT.
red That the mission contributed the result, contcm-
plated-to prevent and US, by the treaties
which thea concluded with the French Government
not only the free Navigation of Mississippi but all
LouisIsDa-MT- Taleyrand's letter 10 Mr.. Livingston
which written after my appointment was kuov,n i;
France, while sea; NIr. Living stons letter 10 me
in reply mine, announcing my arrival ave and the
extract from Col MeceT journal ofwhat passed between
MIR, Livingston and the evening Of my arrival i'm
Paris viii distinctly show. Mr.. Tsryrand states in
explicit terms, that the First nnSu thought improper 10
commence negotiation, the ground Mr. Living sur
complaints, until Mr. Monroe Minister Extraordinary
whom the President had appointed discuss the subject
should arrive and be heard that every susceptible
If contradiction might be completely md defntively dis
ruSsed He s,aies also that the First Consul had charged
him Government that far from thinking that
heir position in Louisiana could he an object of soIi-
citude the least injury the u. States he would
receive the Minister Extraordinary whom the President had
sent O him, with the greatest pleasure, and hoped
that his mission would terminate the satisfaction both
States. Mr.. Livingston cpngratuates me my arrival
aud expresses an ardent desire that my mission may n
s@er mine and the public expectation. War ne saws ma
do something for u.s. nothing else would had paved