Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-19
FRENCH NEGOTIATION.


Il gives us pleasure to copy the following tri-
butte to the merits Of Mr. Rives, as diplomatist,
from the Richmond Enquirer.
The last New York American states the arri-
val Of the (" France" from havre, with files
to the 25th Of May--and presents the following
extract of a letter from Havre of that date:
81 am told the American Treaty is very soon
to come before the Chamber Of Deputies. The
Greek treaty has kept it back"
We have just finished the perusal Of the Do
cuments, which we're laid before the n. OF X. on
the 18Th January last, touching this treaty, and
I" the French SpolIations, since 1900 We
presume they are Just issued from the Press
They are spread over els pages. We have ne
Yer read any thing with more profound attention
nor any political matter with greater pleasure.
We have laid il down with deep sense Of gra-
stude for the Administration which concluded
the negotiation; and with the greatest admiration
for the exertons and abilities Of the Minister who
conducted il. For their and for his sake, we
wish that every citizen Of the country had CO.
DIV OF IL to read. Its contents are too vOluminOus
TO be spread over the Dewspapers-and il would
be exceedingly difficult to present satisfactory
sketch Of the various negotiations il embraces;
the points which we're made. both before and dur.
ing the mission Of MIR. Rves, and the triumphant
manner with which he'combatted and finally over
thew every difficulty which was thrown in his
way-by the aotiquity Of the claims, the ingenni-
ty Of the French Diplomacy, and the poverty Of
the French Treasury.
The most Of these claims were Of twenty
years standing. They had called firth all the
talents Of Messrs. Adams and Clay-of Messrs.
III. Gh.v
met by the argument, that the American claims
had arisen out of the abuses Of an usurper, (Ro-
naparte,) for whose misdeeds the present go.
vernment was not responsible-.alsob y the claims
of Beauma-chais, aud other French citizens
against the Uuited States-and still more snong
" by the claim which France had set up under the
9Th article Of the Treaty ut Louisiana, pledging
to extend TO her commerce IN tue port OF New
Orleans all the privileges Of the most favored
nation. This had proved one Of the greatest
stumbling blocks. during the previous admnstra-
tions--and baffltd all the exerti0ns OF our Score
taries aud our Ministers.
IL i. impossible for Us to convey an adequate
idea, in an a, tice like this of the mingled cour.
tesv anil 6rmness Which Mr.. Rises displayed
during "a most to,lsone aud protracted negotla
tion-of the patience with which he encountered
everv difficulty; Of the perseverance which oves.
cane almost despair itself; OF the talent with
which he refuted all the arguments of the French
Ministers. 10 numerous notes aud conversations;
and of the ingenuity with which he suggested
new substitutes. and new expedients for an ami
cable adjustment. The plan with which he sue
ceeded IN laying the 9th article OF the Louisiana
Treaty to sleep, is indeed wholly his Own.
fie COPIED vita the ministers Of two Kings
He discussed in every form with Pognac, and
Al S.ka anil thair,u halt re
And finally, he was rewarded with the most coin.
ple,e success. l. The Commission Of the two
Chambers had fixed upon 10 millions Of francs
as the highest sum which should be given for the
American claims. The French Minister him
self, by advice of the Council, raised it to Is
Mr. Rives contrived TO exteod il to Is millions,
and with interest TO about 49, 2d. The French
CLAIM against the U. =. was put IN at 4. $50, 24l
francs. Mr.. r. succeeded in cutting it down to
one million and half lBeasmarchais' tedious
claim, and all.)-sd. He induced the French go
vernment TO give up for eCer their claim to com.
mercial. privileges under the 9th article Of the
Treaty-on condition that we should reduce, for
a tern, of ten gears only, our duties on light
French wines; a provision, BY the bye, which is
really an advantage to Ourseves-and at the
same tune, we obtained from them this further
privilege, viz: their agreeing 'to abolish the
distinctio now made IN the French tariff be-
tween the long staple and the short staple cottons
Of the United States. the effect Of which will be
a reduction Of the duty on the former from 40 TO
90 francs the 100 ki'ogrames."
Well might Mr.. r appeal. as he does, in his
closing letter to the State Department, to the
understanding Of the President, as folIows-and
the same appeal might equally be made to every
citizen Of the United States, who reads these do
cuments:
can arrangement which, amid so many diff
culties, has secured for claims Of our citizens
prosecuted in vain for the last twenty years. and
a large portion, IT not the whole, Of which has
been consider as desperately sum sufficient. in
all probability, to pay every cent justly due, and
nearly treble the amount pronounced to be due
by the commission charged with their examina.
ton here; Which has, at the same time, extn-
suished claims Of French subjects against the
United States to the amount Of near five millions
of francs by stipulation to nav million and a