Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-12-11

which cit intD operation tiic first Of January,
iS.9, Jhalt h. rnainisiu,,l. 10 case ih. Govern
inrnt ID the tnitcd States shouli think prnVCr To-
dimiuish those general rates ia t,s~ tariff IT,
consideration ~ th, siip'lstion. which shall h.
binding on tl,c United States Tor tea wears, the
Frvneh t'Oscrnmcn, absndons the r., laniaiicns
~h,eh it had foi med 80 relation to the st, Mti,c
OF the treaty oi ccsSIon at Louisiana. IL cn-
gags. moreover. IL establish on the long STAPLE
cot;ons at the Unird States. which. after the
exchange 1T the Publications ct tl'r prc>.-i Con-
scniion shall he hriuh ,irrctl, thcucr To- D. ."rc
by the vessel, ol u,e Cn,icd States. ar Il, fscns
vrss-is, the same duties short Slaf"tc cot
tons"
1h, ,r,-siy va, duty ratified "a the manner
pr,ScTIh,l ~ Ia. constitutions ct both counlrirs
aud the Ratification Wss exchanged At ii,c Cas- oI
Washington ga thc ~ al February. IS.sl. Dn
account 81 IT. commercial sttpuist,ous ~ ~as. IA
Eve DAYS thereafter, laid D., fore the Congress Of
the Unitrd States vhieh proceeded Co enact such
laws favorable To t,c commerce 1T France ~
were necessary to carry ioto tati execution, aud
France LAA. frnm that period To- the present, been
~, tlIe unrestricted rni ,ymcnt oI the valuable rri
Vilrges that we're thus secured To her. The faith
Of the French nstion having been thus solrnaly
pledged. thro,Ig its constitutional organ, fur the
liquidation anal ult'nIsi- pa,nci4i ot the long de-
fci RID claims ol our citkcus. a. also tor tiic ac
iustmrnt ot other points OF great and reciprocal
benefits IT, both countries. snl the o1ir'i States
having, Nth b'lrl't, s'.'i pr'''np,itudc bs which
their conduct viii, l trust, he always clsrsctc-
riEcd, done every thug that Nas necessary o.
carry the treaty into fall aud fir effect on their
part c0nutcd, Sit thc most perfect confidence, On
equal fidelity anL pramptituir ou the part OF the
Fr,nch Government. la Ihis reasonable cApce-
tation, Nc have been, regret q inform YOU,
wholly disappointed. No Legislative provision
has been made by France Tor the execution Ot tho
treaty, either ~ II respects tia indemnify u D.
paid. or thr CONNIE Tcial bcn its Ia bc secured In
the Uuitcd States and thc rlstions b'twccn the
United States aud that pnVcr, ~ cp"selnc"cr
thereof, placed ns = situation threatening u
interrupt the good unict standing which las -
long aud ~ happily existed bvt~ecn the t~o M
tons.
Not ouly has the French Government been
thus wanting IN the performance of the sup-
ulaIions IT has 80 soiem1iy entered into with
the United States, but IT. omissions have been
marked by circumstances which would seem
To leave US without satisfactory evidences,
that such performance will cITtLinly take
place at a future period. Advice of the cN-
change OF Publications reached Paris prior To
tho Sth April, 1892. The French Chambers
were then sitting, and continued ia session
until the 2lst Of that month, aud although
one instrument Of the Indemnity was pa a.
BILE on the ID Of FEBRUARY, 1888, one year al
ter the exchange of Publications, no apPlicl-
ton was made 10 the Chambers for the re-
CURED appropriation, and IN consequence Of
.
draft of Ihe United States Government Tor
that instalment, was dishonorcd by the Min
istcr OF Finances, and the Uni,ed States there
by involved ia much controversy. The next
session Of the Chambers commenced on the
10Th November, l53a, and continued until the
18th April, 1883. Notw outstanding the oInis-
SION TO pay the first instdlmeni had been
made the subject Of earnest rcmon,it1ncc on
our part, the treaty with the UnItcd States,
md a ball making the necessary oppropria'
; hons To execute II, were not I9ld before Tie
Chamber Of Deputies until the 9th AFrl,
nearly five months alter its meeting, and on
~ nineteen days before the close Of the ses-
SION. The bill was read and referred TO .
committee, but there was no further action
upon Il. The neXt session Of the Chamber,
commenced on the 2G,h of April 1888, and
continued until tho both Of June following
neW bil was introduced On the llth OF
June, bot nothing important was done IN re-
lation TO u during the session. In the month
of Aprii, 1891, nearly three years after the
signature Of the treaty, the hn1l action Of the
French Chambers upon the bill To carry the
treaty IGto effect vas obtained. and resulted
IN refusal Of tie necessary appropriations
The ayowed grounds upon which the bill was
rejected, are 10 be fDuad IN the published de-
bates OF that body, and no observations of
mine can be necessary 10 satisfy Congress OF
their utter iususIciency. Although the gross
amount of the claims Of our citizens Is prob
ably greater than will bc ultimately allowed
by the commissioners. Sufficient -, ueserihe-
less, shown, Co render It absolutely certain
that the IdemuIty falls far short Of the actual
amount OG our just claims, Independently Of
the question Of damages and interest for the
detention. That tho settlement involved a
sacrifice in iis respect WAS well known at
the time sacrifice whichws, chocTiully nc-
quiesced M 10y the different brans hes oI The
Iedcrai Government, whose action upon the
treaty vas required, from sincere desire 90
avoid further collision upon th'. old and dis
tur5ing subject, sni ~ the coufi lent expce-
tat,on that tie general rrisiIons between the
two countries would be- improved thereby.
The refusal 60 vote tho appropriation. the
news of which vas received from our MINIS
ter 80 Par,s shout the iJih day Of May lat.
might have been considered the iiuai deternii-
nation Of the French Cove rumeht not 90 exc
cute the stipuiations e the treaty. and would
have justified an immediate communication
of the facts 10 Congress, With recommends
li0u uf such ultimate measures tie inter.
ct auc honor of tho Cuttcd states might
seem 10 require Bot With the news of the
refusal Of tie Chambers 70 make the appro-
priattOn, were conveyed the regrets ~ tie
King, aud declaration that = national vessel
should De forihs M sent out. with instructions
90 the French Minister o. give the most afa-
PIE explanations of the past. aud the strong
e. assuranccs ior tie futurc. After . ion .
passage, thc promised de- patch vessel arrIt-
rd. The ple,ixes given by tle French WINS
ter. upon receipt n 81 Instructions. we're.
that ~ snon SITTER tie ei~rtiun of The new
members AZ tie charter wou1 permit the
legislative Chambers of france should he
called together, ADD uc Pr1postiJn for an
appropriation isli BE- fore them that an The
constitutional powers of the kink aoi b-
Cabinet should b. eXertei. to accomplish the
object. and that the result should b. made
known early enough ip BE- communicated 90
Congress ~ The commencement % The pre-
cent session. Relying upon these rled.es,
ani not doubling that the ack1ow ledsei jus
tee ~ our clsims, ue promrsed exeftions n
me King ,nd his Cabinet, aud. above sll that
sacred feg1rd ZOE The National faith and hpa-
OF fos which the French character has been
~ distinEuishsd. would secure ~ early exc
cution q The treaty Or 81 its parts. dd not