Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-10
Che Constitutional c4Itt0.
FOREIGN.

We give below the debate IN the Trench Chamber
OF Dcpat,e. OF 27ta, 2sth and Goth of january
which The foreign policy Of France WIS discussed.
I, will be that ,wn great parties at issue on
that policy. III. Mauguin demanded categorcaliy Of
ministers, '.that u tremendous conflict of life
aud death was to take place between the Russians
and the Poles, "wkcther II was their intention TO
uphold the latter, or abandon them tn their fate"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs replied, what 10
it but a war against oil Europe that is demanded Of
u.s." The government could not. he said, at once
pudiatc, as required, the treaties of 1914. II
v~suted Ut first even the military force requisite do
sorwith impuny. Now that this objection subsists
noionger, France cannot. even Tor Poland though
she feels the wrongs long ago committed against
her, violate the principle at nom int or vention
which she bns taken her stand. "That unfortunate
country SAID he. us 400 leagues from and, say
it with greet, do nothing f"r Poland By force
Of urns." The case OF Belgium was different. She
was not beyond the sphere of France. phe princ,-
pie of nonin'ervention had saved her. As to that
c,unry he would say, that she had addressed to
FrCncc wish for union nationally expressed. nor
had France INTERVIEWED, that nterposed by force,
III the election OF sovereign for her. She had only
expressed her wish, and the reasons for 1t
General Lanarque said that France CO uld not
long remain in her present situation, which III
suited to the monarch of her choice, who may rely
The support of the nation lie adverted the viola
ton OF the independence Of the Poles, which was
acknowledged by the Congress of Vienna aud the
treaty OF 1915, 1t had been said That France could
not contend with the Colossus of the North; but
thst Colossus has not the aid of England, and
Turkey, too, is ready TO renew the war He thought
belgium strangely out OF f;vor. England, Aus
trIa and Russia each straning every nerve to
KEEP their hold Ireland, Italy and Poland, while
France denies To Belgium the union she desires.
Tie next day General Lafayette rose, and gen.
cval silence prevailed Diplomacy, he SAID, must be
founded on the interests of the people. lie did not
plead tor either peace war, but he would lay before
the Chamber a principle identified with The h TOR
and prosperity of Franco. What follows has been
branded by contemporary Journal "a new cd-
OF tie pro7ayHti'Sn of tho former revolution" Gen
cral Lafayette has himself replied TO this IN the
conclusion Of the speech from which are about To
make all extract. II Revolutionary France, he said.
had made many conqucss, 1t was because she was
constrained 10 it by the blindness of her enemies,
hnd 10y the Kings who then formed league with
their people against her. These kings and these
people might be allies for the present day; in some
few days perhaps they may become her implaca be
rucmes The passages which follow will exhibit
the venerable PATRIOTS sentiments to the policy of
his country:
Il have heretofore sid that there were two con-
tending parties in the world,-the opprcssors and
hr oppressed; and will add that there are two
governing principles in Enrope,-the rights of the
People, and the rights of Sovereignty, or IN other
words the Right Divine. On he one side Liberty
and Equality and the other Arbitrar,
Power and Exclusive Privilege. ! cannot say how
long these two principles may continue TO live in
good neighborhood with each 0tiIer bot know that
the prucplo we have adopted is progress vely ex-
pandlng, that IT will remain faithful TO itself
and that all hostility against il will only cnrve TO
strengthen and accelerate its growth. II is in VAIN
10 talk Of existing treaties. II evident that the
revolution of July by having annued various clauses
Of the charar Of the year 1914, has the sJme time
annniied all those treaties that were incompatib
vith itself. will mention but two-that which on
snred the kingdom of France TO Charles " and his
family. and that which united Belgium 10 Holland
When fhe Minister of Foreign Atfllrs asks whether
we would go to war N violation Of treaties, I an
swcr-Hes, both for France and Belgium; and the
Kings Government ought to make the same reply
For take upon me TO say that these treaties have
and her enemies. but imposed upon France by her
enemies. who, by force If foreign bayone,s placed
enc OF their own society III the Tuilleries 10 rnfc
with our independence, and convert It to their own
ircfit.- Cheers irrm the lcf.)
when called upon To explain in this Chamber
and IN the presence of Ministers. my notions of the
System OF nOn-interveniOn, said, that wherever the
right Of sovereignty claimed by the peopIe
intervention IN the affairs OF that people should be
considered as declaration Of war against Franc.
These are the principles We ough, TO defend be the
Consequences what they may. Should we by this f.
Ccty To our principles be forced into war we sha
10 apply the words of Mr. Coming. center into n
with our eyes opcn ond not with our ewes shut -
We shall be supported by 500,0O0 regular troops and
hy The 500 600 National Guards, of whom the Min.
stcr OF War has rendered good an account n nd
Tor which thank him. shall now proceed to the
ft:ars of Belgium with regard 10 which the conduct
o! Government has been perfectly consistent -
II Is true that scarcely Government, establish
cd. when we were called upon to protect the sove
rcignty Of the people of Belgium; and we Immediate
~ signIfed to the Ambassadors Of all Foreign Power
that the moment foreign soldier set foot in Belgium
It would be considered n declaration of war against
ourselves. This was in strict conformity with our
principles Here confess l would have stopped
w hen the Belglans asked for counsel would have
sald--be wnat you wish TO be- II you wish 10 become
Northern Switzerland, become so except as to tho
ArIsocracy llaughter): if you desire to have For
egn Prince for your Sovereign, choose whom Won
VIII. we will supper, you: and if they had elected
lhe Duke Nemours, would have recommended min
fters TO advise the King To give iis consent.
"As to the re union of Belgium with France I
would not have stopped TO inquire whether il might
be- dspeasing to this that Power; all the nouirv
should have made would have been whether il ,yas
the desire of the majority of the belgian people TO
elect and the VIII OF the representatives Of The
French nation TO accede TO, the union for il is not
within the province Of the Government Of either
country to offer or accept IT."
- LAFAYETTE added that he did not fear offending
England, who had ucccdcd TO the treaties of Lune
villc and Amiens, which secured the union of Belrm
with France under Napoleon. an who cortainlv md