Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-12-18
OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.


lar parts of the Presidents Message to the
appropriate committees, Mr.. Clayton, of Geor-
gia, offered an amendment to the resolution
of MIR. Conner, giving certain instructions to
the committee.
Mr.. Clayton considered the subject contain
ed III his amendment, one Of the most impor-
tant which would come before Congress at its
present session. He desired to be distinctly
understood, that in the remarks he should
make, he should divest himself Of all party
feeling. He would be the last to raise an OBJ
lection to the course recommended by the
Executive upon mere party grounds. lie had
no doubt this officer had done what he thought
right, and that he had nothing to censure on
that account. But the President, in regard to
our relations with France, had imposed upon
the Legislature high responsibility, and TO
this body, the whole People must look for the
consequences which must flow from our de-
! Illberatlons upon the subject. 1t was not to
be disguised, that the course suggested by
the President, was tantamount to declara-
ton of war. The time might come, and cir
cumstances might arise, when war might
become necessary, but that time had certainly
not yet arrived.
|
sident's Message on the subject before the
House, and appealed to the candor of the gen.
tlcmen to say whether, if the suggestions
should be approved and acted on by Congress,
it would not cventuatc in war, and that too
with one of the proudest and most formidable
nations in the world. 1t had been said that
the delay was necessary that the question
in controversy might be already settled by
the action of the French Chambers. If so,
the course which lie proposed, would show
the friendly feelings of this nation towards
their ancient ally. BY the debates in the
French Chamber, it seemed that the subject
of our claims, was ably contested and oppos-
cd on the ground Of right. Was it then 10 be
expected, that what this naughty and high.
minded people would not concede, upon argu-
ment, would be yielded when they should be
put in possession Of the menaces contained in
the Presidents Message? Mr. C. said that
there was not at present a justifiable cause of
war on the part of France, but as soon as we
should proceed to carry into effect the re-
commendatons of the Executive, war would
be inevitable. He believed our claims were
Just-that they ought to be satisfied, but con-
tended that as the French chamber under the
French constitution had right to arrest the
treaty, 1t was improper that our Government
should act so hastily on the subject. Those
claims, it was true, had been pending twenty
five years. We were, however, assured that
the French crown and cabinet were in favor
of carrying the treaty into effect, and if so,
were we prepared to preciptate this matter
and plunge the nations hitherto so friendly in
war? He read from the debates in the French
chambers on this subject, and commented at
some length upon the relations which have
hitherto subsisted between the two govern
ments.
Mr.. c. said, we were about to 60 to war,
without single dollar in the Treasury. He
would 60 farther: there was deficiency of
S2,5GO,0O0. 1t was not necessary to press
this subject now, but he had the vouchers to
prove what he said. The Secretary Of the
Treasury himself acknowledged that the funds
on hand amounted to only 100000. This
war must take place on the high seas, and the
vast amonnt of our property would have to be
defended not only against France, but the
whole world. We were about being relieved
from heavy debt incurred in former war,
when new debt was proposed to be created.
Consequences had followed that war which
tended almost to destroy the union. He be-
lleved the course recommended by the Presi-
dent would not receive the appreciation ofthe
American People, and he was satisfied that it
would be opposed by the entire South.
MIR. Claiborne considered this most impor-
tant question. Although not inclined to trou-
Bile the House, yet were he dumb, the feel
ings which then animated him, might break
the bonds of silence. The winds of Heaven
would soon wait the Presidents Message to
the shores Of France, and with it he desired
there should be sent an antidote. What would
ha tbn oc 81 8.
tions, if carried into effect War, as certain
as the rumblng thunder follows the light
nng's flash; and that, too with nation which,
land contributed, by her sword, to erect this
citadel of freedom. We should do every
thing but sacrifice our honor, before this step
was resorted to. Mr.. G. went, at some length,
into the consequences which might be expect
ed to result from the Executive recommends
tons and declared that he was actuated in his
course by the highest sense of public duty.
He believed this nation would be found op-
posed to the measure Of the President, and he
should, therefore, vote for the resolution of the
gentleman from Georgia.
Mr.. Wayne said that the discussion was
premature. A motion is made to refer the
subject to the committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, and the gentleman from Georgia moves
specific instructions to that committee, which
leaves the committee nothing to do but to act
in conformity to the instructions, and thus this
intricate subject, which the French chambers
have not been able to understand in three
and half years, is to be decided without con-
sideraton by competent committee of the
| House. Gentlemen treated the Message of
the President as war Message. He did not
| consider it in any such light. The President
merely recommends, in the event of the
French chambers persisting in refusing to
carry the treaty into effect, the mdest mea-