Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-03
Rtrt)t1r0tVO 69a1)tU,
FRIDAY ,.oRNING, JULY 3, 1879.
CARON DE BEAUMARCHAlS.

The history ofthc claim of this celebrated individ-
ual upon thcpeoPe and Government of the U. States
is moro extraordinary than any thing of the kind i'll
any county We annex very brief compendium.
| In the first years of the Revolutionary war the
Government of France applied to for her aid to
the Colonies in the fearful struggle into which they
had entered with their potent enemy Various sums
were accordingly secretly advanced at different times
precedent 10 the open part taken by France in the
year 1878. Secrecy was necessary, because France
tor the first two three years of the Revolutions
was IN no condition 10 so To war with England; and
individuals. among whom Beanma rchais, private ban
Ker TO Louis XVI, man OF genius, and Rcpub
can IN principle, was the chief, were encouraged
to supply tue infant United States, with arms and
other Indispensable ncccssaries for carrying the
war. Beaumarchais accordingly, made large ship
ments OF arms to America, OH his individual respon-
sieiity and at his private rlsque. How necessary
these supplies were TO us, how Indispensable indeed,
every man acquainted with that gloomy period of
| the struggle well knows.
| Alter tho lGpse Of many years, tho accounts OF
Bcaum aTchas against the u. States were defni-
lively settled ut TIE Treasury in Washington in the
year 1903 In that settlement, the U. S. acknowl-
edged themselves indebted TO him in the balance OF
a.70O,ouo hrres, or about $500, oo0 But from
this SUM the accounting Officers the Treasury de-
ducteh 600 oOo lvres, with interest from the 10Th
june l776, On the ground that on that day. that sum
Of money was paid TO Beaumarchas by order OF Low,
IS the XVI for the service of the u States md for
which he had 0ersr 0reoi1fed 10 them. This sun, con-
stutcs the present claim of tho Representatives Of
Bcaumarchais the U. States.
Tie question Is, whether Beaumarchuis applied the
million OF ivrcs received OH the 10th Jnne I71G TO
the service OF the u. States. We mean not tn N,
into the evidence. The Government of Franco. las
at all times protested, and does protest that the
million Of lvres was used for sscrel political sser,
that 1t vas not employed the u States cont end In
purchase Of those arms with which Beaumarchais sup.
Piled them, and that BeaunarciaiS promptly accom-
ted furit soon after It's expenditure 70 Louis the XVI
himself
On the other hand, there IS not wanting evidence
to sustain hc opinion (Which withheld the payment
oil the million of livres in IS05) that Beaunarchais
merely acted to that amount, agent of the gratui
y OF Louis the XV but it may be safely predicated
that this evidence is wholly of secondary and infe
rior character, and that it ought not to weigh for
moment, against the solemn, unequivoca and repeat
ed declarations of the French Government that Beau
marchais accounted to his King for the million vrcs
and that the arms were furnished by Bcaumarchais
from his own resources
How then stands tho case? That Ueaun1a reba;s
furnished the arms, the U. States admit, That il
vas at the gloornies period of the war, we all know
That without those very arms, We could not have
maintained the conflict for our independence, is
highly probable. That Beaumarchais was considered
at the time, our most generous and efficient bene-
factor the evidence of Franklin and Deane, AMI the
| rich rd
daDtly anu most honouraby show. Upon what
grounds then have the U. Statcs evaded the pay
mcnt Of claim fortified by so many slcrrd consid-
! crations' The only ground pretended is that the
mlIhon OF hvrcs IN question we're present, era
tuty, from Louis the XVI, and that they did not
Come on; Of the pocket Of Caron dc Beaumar chais!
Never did great aud powerful Nation, compromise
hcF dignity and her justice by 80 questionable plea
Let us suppose that the cum in controversy toas
iatuity from the King of France, and that Beau
marchais purchased with IL iustcad offrom his
own pockotslet us suppose Mis against the uniform
and solemn asscvcrations of the French Government
from the time Of the Count dc Vergunncs to the pre-.
sent moment! IF the Government Of France wishes
to revokeits gift Of the million Of vres doest become
the dignity of the u s. to refuse repayment, Strange
however to say, the Government OF the u. States,
that condescendcd To receive gratuitcs from France
TO the amount Of many millions will not 1oD, believe
her Government, when it assures US, that the million
In dispute not part OF the mIny millions gioen
to Us.
Bit, If IL be true, as the Government Of France
has asserted for forty years that this million ofvrcs
was actually advanced to tho u. States in tho time
of their utmost need and peril in tho shape of arms
and military stores by BCaumarchuis out of his own
pockct--by Beaumarchais who, when nations were
afraid to acknowledge to aid US, generously came
forward and supplied pressing and dreadful NC
cessites out Of his own pursc--if this, we say, be
true ought 1t not to call the burning blush into tho
check Of every American -ctlzon, to think how TN.
gratefully he has been roqutcd a proud ruan would
scorn TO claim that gift, which the donor acdged
vas never given. n grateful man would dsdain TO