Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-30
TRANSLATION.
Count de Rigny 10 W. Livingston

PARIS, August |tIl. lS04.
SIR: have received the letter with which you
honored me on the 4th instant, in reply To mine
OF July 3lst. While you acknowledge (appre-
ceiZ) the sincere assurances which had the
happiness again to express 10 you, that II was
the intention of the Kings Government TO spare
no efforts towards producing an entire and 81 =
tisfactory conclusion of the affair of the Treaty
signed on the 4th ofJuy, 1881, you seem, sir, TO
fear that the President of the United States might
not find in those same assurances confirmation
of that which his MajeSty's Minister in w ashing-
ton made, in his note of the 5th June, respect
ing the period at which the projet de toi for the
execution Of the Convention would be again
presented to the Chambers. On reading over
Mr.. Serurier's note, am unable ! confess. to
find in it any engagement or expression which
is at variance with what had the honor to COM
municate TO you myself
The Kings Minister at Washington has Ger
tainly said nothing inconsistent with truth, when
he spoke of our disposition 10 do all that the
Constitution would permit in order to hasten
the period for the presentation of the rejected
bill. But you are aware that the execution OF
this plan is subordinate TO considerations not to
be lost sight of for the sake ofthe very end, which
both governments are anxious TO attain; and Mr..
Seruricr cannot have meant any thing else in
the part of his note, which has thus been par
ticuIarly regarded at Washington (dont on
cru devoir prendre acte a Washington.) You
know. Sir, the motives which would prevent the
presentation to the Chambers of the projet de
ioi respecting the Convention Of 1881, during
the Session which will be Immediately pro-
rogued Reasons equally peremptory, and e.
qnaIly clear. would forbid assembling the Cham
bers before Winter, for the special purpose Of
voting on this question, and il is with regret.
repeat, that we find ourselves unable to accede
to the desire Of the President of the United
States OH this point But besides the imnossi.
bility Of keeping the Chambers together at a
time Of the year, during which parl amentarv
labors are habitually suspended, and when the
Deputies already appear impatient to return to
their homes there is another consideration more
particularly applying to the Treaty Of 1891 the
importance of which cannot have escaped your
attention. Placed as you are in situation to
judge of every thing mere which could have re
latIon 10 the question, you must have been con-
WINGED with what circumspection(m management
il has to be treated before the Legislature and
the public; and your own observation on this
point must have enabled you 10 appreciate The
system of prudence and procrastnalion (ad-
j0urnment) which the Kings Government had
prescribed for itself These precautions are
equally necessary and proper at present, and
without entering here into details, the want
which your own penetration may easily supply
1t is to be doubted, ] must say. whether in the
actual state of things an untimeiy (anticipee) "a
sembling of the Chambers for the purpose of Sc
curing by their assent the eXecut on of The Trea-
ty OF 1881, would produce those advantages
which are at Washington expected from such
a course. After these explanations, in which
your Government will f1alter myself, discern
as much frankness as there is in the communi-
cations which il has instructed you to make
(prescries) repeat that, as soon as the Cham
bers can be assembled, the proiet de loi which
they discussed in their last Session will be one
of the first subjects presented to them; and this
new delay, hope, will he far from injuring the
prospect ofsuccess of an affair in which the as
sstance Of time has already been useIully in
voked.
The Kings Government, which has Just re
ceived, with Mr.. Serurier's dispatches, the note
ofthe First Secretary Of State of the Union in
reply to the communications of that envoy, is
sincerely affected by the confidence OF the Pre-
sident in the loyalty Of its promises The mo.
deration Of the Chief Magistrate Of the Repub-
lie ofthe United States is a new testimonial of
the nobleness of his character, and of the en- |
ightened principles by which his policy is guild !
ed. He will continue. we doubt not, to display
in this business spirit of wisdom, and reconc- |
iation, well calculated to second our efforts. for
a successful termination of the affair and he |
must be wei! persuaded that the French Govern
nent, as it comprehends the extent offs enage-
nents, will fulfill them with that good faith
which presides over all its actions