Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-03
asorTstaunegD Ea9 Tt6Ws
FRIDAY ssoHN,NG, JULX 3, 1928.
CARON DE BEAUMARCIiAIS.

CARON DE BEAUMARCIiAIS.
The history Of the claim Of this celebrated i,d;yd-
ua upon the people ami Government OF the u States
Is more extraordinary than any thing of the kind in
any country. We anacx very brief compendium.
IN the first years Of the Revolutionary war the
Gorornnieut OF Btancc applied TO for her uid to
the Colonies in the fearful struggle into which tbcv
had entered with their potent enemy. Various sums
were accordingly secretly advanced at different times
precedent to the open part taken by France in tho
year 1918. Secrecy WAS necessary. because France
tor the first two or three years of the Revolution
was i'll no condition to % to war with England: and
individuals. among whom Beuumarchais, private ban
ker to Louis WI, a man of genius, and Repubi
can lii principle, was the chief, were encouraged
to supply the infant United States, with arms and
other Indispensable mccessares for carrying on the
war Geaumarchais accordingly, made laro, shin
uients OF arms TO America OH his individual respon-
sibity, and at his private risque How necessary
these supplies were to US, how Indispensable indeed,
the struggle well knows.
AMER lie ialse OF many years, the accounts OF
Eeaumarc!.ais against The L. States, were deiini
lively settled ut the Treasury in Washington in the
year 1905. la that settlement, the u. S. ucknowi-
100000 lvres, about 100000 But from
TINS sum the accounting Officers at the Treasury de-
dncieh ,o0o,OU0 ivrcs, with interest from the 10Th
jdh' 1916 ON the ground that that day that sum
otmoney vas paid 20 Eca,imarc by order Of lev
Is the WI for the service OF the T. States and for
Which he hud aaeDer oscouu;sd 10 tdem This sun, con-
st.tutes the present claim Of the Representatives Of
bcaunarchaiS the L. States
no &c II
million Of ivrcs received the 9th Jnns, 1T7s, TO
the service of the U. States. We meun not TO 90
into the evidence. The Government Of i'cance. has
u oil tlmes protested and does protest, that the
million OF vres used for secret 1oicaL seyvicr
tat ~as not employed the U. States cont end in
purchase OF those h which Beaunarchas sup
Phed tIe'n' and that Bcaunarchais promptly accoun-
TED soon after its expenditure to LOUIS the XVI
himself
On the other hand, there is not wanting evidence.
10 sustain the opinion (Which withheld the payment
OF the million Of livres in 1869 that Beaun,arcbais
merely acted to that amount, agent OF the gratui-
" u Louis theAHl bu. may be safely predicated
that this evidence IS wholly of secondary am, nfe
fiF Character and that ought Not to weigh for
'nohcht againSethe solemn, unequvocal und repeat
ed declarations ofthc French Government that Beau
'harchas accounted to his Kilg for the million iyres,
and that the arms were furnished by E.aumarcha;
from his own resources.
Low then stands the case: That DeaumarcLais
furnished the arms, the u. States admit. That it
was at the gloomicst period Of the ar we all know
That without those very arms, We cuuId not have
maintained the conflict for our independepcs is
| highly probable. That Beanmarchas vas considered
at the time, our most generous and efficient beue-
factor, the evidence Of Franklin and Deanc. and tn.
archives, history and tradition of the country album
dainty and most hononrabiy show. Upon wha.
grounds then have the u. States evaled the p.v
Elcnt OF claim fortified By SO maay sacred coasid-
craions? The only ground pretended is that the
million OF livres in question were prcseat n era
L"iy, from Louis the XVI, and that they did not
come on; Of the pocket of Caron de Bcannarchais!
Never did great and powerful Nation COMPROMISE
her dignity and her justice by SO questionable plea
Let US suppose that the SUN in controversy, aoas
graiuity from the King of France, and that Beam
marchais purchased with IL Instead offfom his
own pocHets-le IT, suppose tits, against the uniform
ana solemn asSevcratons Of the French Governments:
ifomthc time OF the Count Dc Vergenues to the pre-
sent moment: If the Government of France wishes
torevoke lis gilt Of the million ofyrcs does it become
tie dignity OF the u s. to refuse repayment Strange
however to cay, the Government of the U. States,
thaf Ga7deSceaded to receive gratuties from France
TO the amount Of many millions, wnot uolo believe
her HoVernm en-, wh3n it u.s. that the mill on
IN dispute was not part Of tho u,1ay millions giccn
TO Us.
B1tt it Be true, as the Government Of France
has asserted for forty years, that this million ofvrcs
was actually advanced to the u. States in the time
Of their utmost need and peril, in the share of arms
and military stores by Deanmarchais out Of bis own
pocket-6y Ecaumarcliais, who, when nations were
AFRAID TO acknowledge or TO aid us, generously came
forward and supplied Our pressing and dreadful re-
ceSsiies' out Of his own purscif this, VIC say, bc
ifuc ought not to call tire burning blush into the