Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-17

Il vernment The public tunctionaries of France who
alone were csnverssn OF the fact from the Count d.
IVergennes, (wbo is said to havs made the payment,
down to the present Ministry, have uniformly denied
the existence Of such payment Those Jenals were
made In TO enquiries h.; the official organs Of the
American Government. BY persisting to refuse pay
ment, Congress at once declare their disbelief OF the
French Ministers, and practice upcn Bcaumarchsis
The double injustice of refusing 10 pay just debit
siyma,izng as swindler him, whom the Congress of
ITO acknowledged as benefactor, and promise the
| applause OF n New World
Under such circumstances, would any conscientious
man, who in season Of adversely, had been supplied
with the necesssries Of life, II applied 20 for payment
alter his affairs had become prospe resist 1t such
grounds! Would he say 10 his neighbor, state
oil comparative poverty, True. received your aid az
| a time when my necessities great, my means Of
payment, small and precarious, and liberty and lille
inimminen, peri-True. have made you return; bu
there is strong persuasive evideace (repori of Com
mit,ee alluded TO by Palladium that you furnish
cd with funds by friend OF mine; and although the
matter is yet in obscurity and will probably
main So (same report) AMI although my friend has
constantly declared, that the funds with whch he fur
nishcd you, were by his orders applied different
| pnrposeyet suspect him of Of csndour, and
| will not pay you.' Would he not rather say, q" will
pay adeb Of this same character, twice out of my
own pocket, sooner than there shall remain the
smallest doubt of its payment" Ought not this 10 he
the language OF every high. minded, honor ebe Sneri
cant The refusal TO pay this debt, upon the testimony
OF the French Government. il direct insult offered III
yet the Secretary OF State, in 10 the N. York
mcmoralists does not doubt 'ha. payment will be made
to our citizens Of 40 or 30 millions of dollars, from the
| most
| Christian Majes'ys Government"
The old Congress Acknowledged the debt due 10 Mr.
de Beaumarcbais, and the important services rendered
by him. appears by the following letter of their Pres
ident, written by their command:
| lst january. l779.-"Sir: The Congress Of the u.
States of America sensible fyour exertons their ia
vor, present you with their thanks, and You Of
| their regard. They lament the Inconvenience you bav"
suffered by the great advance made in support OF these
States Circumstances have prevented compliance
with their Wishes bu, they will take the most ec ctual
| 20 he debit IN
| YOU,
! "'The liberal sentiments anil extensive views which
alone could dictate conduct like YOURS are conspicu
Gus in your actions and adorn your character While
with great talents you served your Prince, have
gained the esteem Of this infant republic and will
ceive the merited applause of new world. By order
Of Congress. JOHN JAY, President"
Mr. De Beaumarchais alludes to this letter in his
| last memorial 10 Congress and concluded thus: 'But
will leave This long computation OF and caicu
ations, though it breaks my heart to feel in what
dreadful situation am quitting my only daughter sav-
| ing her without surport-without guide--wi,hout a
protector and wasting her life in the pursuit of con
tested claims. will address my arden, PRAYERS 20
you will no longer dispute and establish my rie hts by
proofs and reasoning but try only TO turn your justice
10 kindness and Interest towards my orphan daughter
My rights 10 such interest direct. IL is you
wished TO serve il Is yourselves that have served
have gained no other reward than afliction. Allow
me- dying TO hequcath TO you my daughter who after
me- perhaps, will he ruined by other njustices, which
will not then he in my power repair. in0thng were
to be left her in this world. perhaps she will Gud in flu
re that those delays OF payment may be last
that heaven has intended 10 leave her after my death
If many prnois Obtained their natural effect be As Just
as Congress was in l7Is Reward me in the being
whom love the best in this world. Let the csmpen
ation OF what have done belong tony daughter when
her father shall be no more; and dying allow
commend her TO your kind prot ction."
HIS prayers no. heard The pledge OF the Con-
gress who knew AMI appreciated his services, has not
been redeemed. and instead of receiving the applause
OF new world, he has been stigma,izod as swind-
enclose extracts from the opinions of Messrs.
Rodney and Pinckney, Attorneys General, and of Mr..
Wickham, the Of Presidents Madison and Mon
roc, and extract from the very able report of Mr.
Sneaker Stevenson. which beg the favor of you pub
'lsh will not trespass much upon you, 10 ask
The publication OF any other documents; but will 10 il
so far 10 ask perusa Of the reports of Mr. Bald
win OF Pennsyivi nia, and OF Mr. Everett of Masschu
sets " ud then appeal 10 you politician and
man. would ask you whether policy does dictate
the immediate payment OF this claim and thus remove
an obstruction IN the OF Mr.. Rives negotiation with
the French Government. Whether we ought not 20 sol
the example OF doing justice ourselves and by deine
acquire the right 10 demand OF ohcrs. Who ough. 10
commence! Surely the government that has beeD in.
deo'ed longest-That government is oursthe debt is
eoeva with our existence nation. Until pay il,
the wishes Of our fellow citizens of New York to send
special mission TO France TO demand payment OF their
claims, can never be complied with. because the de-
mand would not he supported by public opinion
appeal to Won as 10 say whether payment Of
the claim is not demanded by justice, by graiiudan and
by honor. A. b.
| Erfrca from .tr Roarsys ensuicn
"srGI examined great care at:onoa the papers
so csfon 81 ' T fas Subject G ,is
In important Though commenced the
with pposcssions unyoablc 10 the clsm from
OF the doeument the inclination my mind against tho
be decided This led E @o se eo @
trust first impressions
that they would WELD 20 dgen enquiry, and
dcbeaton With this view have Tec01icred the
On the wholo, plea Of payment or dscy,
Beansrch0is be attributed the Freacb Government
admissible and which cannot onteT into myyev of the ease"
oFF'eH OF rnS ATrORgEv GEssrAI TIE US.
| Washington, February %, 1910
tI have considered subject which you ddmo
% honor 10 address 10 the 9Th of last month tho
we representative OF Mons de Beoumarcha add of opinion
that the documents do Of law maintain
million Of hyros 10 which your letter aluies
"Ihe demand OF Monsieur dc Beaum appears
What principles whether OF strict
whether reasonable probability regular poof
| know and have not been called upon to inquire.
III the demand has been admitted, without rigorous
Congress TO determine how far be
count claimed by the Government purely legal But
as matter of laws compelled the
Deduction insisted must be shown by the United
| Of Justice.
f the opinion should DO thought necessary shall
taSe great pleasure IN stating them to tho committee.
have The honor TO be- with great considerations sir,
Your most obcdient humble servant,
| WILLIAM PINKNEy
| "To the Chairman Of the Committee Of Claims"
Erraes from The opinion Of .Jao. HgeshGu, E.sq
On onde of the Of which have had full
lion Tom the documents relating it, consider the claim
Ne United States founded demand by of million
Of rcs, lcdged to have been furnished Mr. do v
The French Government in behalf Of the United States accord
ing 70 ny best uismen as matter Wright resting ga
dence wholly .iui,lndcd. JOHN WICKHAM.
Richmond, Va 9th Nov. 1877"
E,ytroct from, Mr. Steseysoa,s repoy,.
The committee cf opinions that questions arise
ihs case which az this time to bo condcrsd
ded the first is whether the million cfvres have
millions gireH y Franco America and contrar
o. . al secondly, u 80, whether received by Beaumar-