Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-11

deem u necessary TO call the atsen ton
congress TO the subject at the Ia 81 SO
sion.
| regret 10 say that the pledges mad
J through the minister Of France have nc
been redeemed The new chambers me
on the 3Ist July last. and although III
subject of fulfilling treaties was lalluded I
IN the speech from the throne, no astemp
was made by the king or his cabinet
toprocure an appropriation to carry il in
to execution. The reasons given for thi
commission. although they might be con
sidered sufficient in an ordinary case. ar,
not consistent with the expectations foun
ded upon the assurances given here, fol
there is no constitutional obstacle TO en-
tering into Legislative business at the frs
meeting Of the chambers. This point
however, might have been overlooked
had not the chambers instead ofbeing cal
led TO meet at so early day that the re-
suit OF their deliberations might be com
municated to me before the meeting Of
congress, been prorogued to the goth oil
the present month"; period so late that
their decision can scarcely be made known
to the present congress prior TO its disso-
luton. To avoid this delay, our minister
in Paris, in virtue OF the assurance given
by, the French minister in the United
States, strongly urged the convocation OF
the chambers at an earlier day, but with
out success. II is proper TO remark, how
ever, that thissrefusal has been attonipa.
MED with the most positive assurances, on
the part Of the executive government of
France, of their intention to press the
appropriation at the ensuing session of
the chambers.
The executive branch of this govern
tnent has, as matters stand. exhausted all
the authority upon the subject with which
| it is invested, and which nhad any reason
to believe could be benelicially employed.
The idea of acquiescing in the refusal
to execute the treaty will not, am conf
dent, be for a moment entertained by any
branch of this government and further
negotiation is equally out OF the question.
Ii il shall be the pleasure Of congress to
await the futher action Of the French cham
bers, no further consideration of tho sub
ject will, at this session, probably be re.
quircd at your hands. But, IL, from the
original delay in asking for an appropria-
ton, from the refusal Of the chambers to
grant 1t when asked. from the omission TO
bring the subject before the chambers at
their last session, from the fact. including
that session. there have been FIVE different
occasions when the appropriation might
have been made, and from the delay in
convoking the chambers until some weeks
after the meeting of congress, when IL was
well known that communication OF the
whole subject to congress at the last SEES
sion, was prevented by assurances that il
should be disposed Of before its present
meeting, you should feel yourselves con-
strained 10 doubt whether il be the in
tention Of the French government In all
its branches to carry the treaty into effect !,
and think that such measures as the occa-
sion may be deemed to call for, should be
! now adopted, the important question arts.
es what those measures shall DO.
Our institutions are essentially pacific,
Peace and friendly intercourse with all ma
| tons, are as much the desire of our 60
vernmeut as they are the interest Of our
people. But these objects are not 10 be
permanently secured, by surrendering the
rights Of our citizens, or permitting solemn
treaties for their indemnity 10 cases offia-
grant wrong, to be abrogated or set aside.
1t is undoubtedly in the power Of con-
| gress seriously to affect the agricultural
and manufact turing interest of France, by
the passage of laws relating to her trade
with the Uuited States. Her products,
manufactures, & tonnage, may be subject
ed 10 heavy duties in our ports, or all com.
mercial intercourse with her may be sus-
pended. But there are powerful. and "a
my mind, conclusive, objections to this
mode Of proceeding. We cannot embar-
rass or cut of the trade Of France, with
out, at the same time, in some degree,
embarrassing or cutting off our own trade
The injury Of such warfare must fall
though unequally, upon our own citixens,
and could not but impair the means of the
government, and weaken that united sen.
timent in support OF the rights aud hon
or of the nation which must now prevadt
) every bosom. Nor 10 it impossible thai
such course of legislation would intro
, duce once more into our national coanseli
! those disturbing Questions in relation e
the tariff of duties which have been so re
Gently put to rest. Besides, every measure
adopted by the United States with tn
!, view of injuring France, the clear percep
. tion of right which will induce our ow
2 people, and the rulers and people Of othe
: nations, even Of France herself, to pro
nounce our quarrel just, will be obscured
and the support rendered TO Us In fns
resort TO more decisive measures, NOR
: limited and equivocal. There is but on
: point in the controversy, and upon tina
: the whole civilized world must pronounc
!, France to be in the wrong.
i We insist that she shall pay us a SUI
h of money. which she has acknowledged |
! be due and Of the justice Of this deman
= there can be but one opinion among mai
4 kind. True policy would seem to dicta
IA that the question at issue should be keI
,r thus disencumbered, and that not Il
At slightest pretence should be given
% France to persist in her refusal to NAL
:. payment, by an act on our part afectiI
III the interests Of her people. The questi'
10 should be left as it is now, in such an al
n. tude that when France fulGls her trea
" siipulations, all controversy will be at
np end.
as, II is my conviction, that the Unit
nd States ought to insist on prompt exe'
ed ton of the treaty, and in case il be ref