Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-12-17


for the execution OF the treaty, either
as it respects the indemnity to be paid
orthc commercial benefit, TO be secured
to the United States, and the relations
between, the United States and that
power, in consequence thereof, are pla-
ced in a situation threatening to inter-
rupt the good understanding which has
so long and SO happily existed between
the two nations.
Not only has the French Government
been thus wanting in the performance of
the stipulaions it has so sole,nnly enter
ed into with the United States, but its
Omissions have been marked by circum-
stances which would seem to leave u.
without satisfactory evidences, that such
performances will certaisiy take place
at future period. Advice Of the ex-
change Of notifications reached Paris
prior to the 9Th April, 1882. The French
Chambers were then sitting, and contin
lued in. session until the 2lst Of that
month, and although one inslalment of
the indemnity was payable on the Cd of
February, 1888, one year after the ex-
change Of ratIf, ations, no application
was made to the Chambers for the re-
CURED appropriation, & in consequence
of no appropriation having then been
made, the draft Of the United States
Government for that instalmert, was
dishonored by the Minister Of Finance.
aud the United States thereby involved
in much controversy. The next session
Of the Chambers commenced on The 18th
November, 1882, and continued until
the 18th April, 1888. Notwithstanding
the omission to pay the first instalment,
had been made the subject of earnest
remonstrancc on our part the treaty with
the United States, ard bill making the
necessary appropriations to execute it.
were not laid before the Chamber oil
Deputies Until the 9Th of April, nearly
five months after its meeting, aud onl,
nineteen days before the close of the SEES
sion. The bill was read and referred
to committee, but there was no further
action upon it. The next session of the
Chambers commenced on the Goth OF
April, 1888, and continued until the 26th
of June following. A new bill was in
PRODUCED on the 11th of June, but no
thing important was done in relation 10
| it during the session. In the month Of
April, 1884, nearly three years after the
signature OF the treaty, the final action
of tie French Chambers upon the bill
to carry the treaty into effect, was OBJ
tanned, and resulted in refusal Of the
necessary appropriations. The avowed
grounds upon which the bill was reject
ed, are to be found in the published de
hates Of that body, and no observations
of mine can be necessary TO satisfy Con
gress of their utter insufiiciency. Al
though the gross amount of the claims
of our citizens is probably greater than
will be ultimately allowed by the Gem
tnissioners, sufficient is, nevertheless.
shown, to render it absolutely certain
that the indemnity falls far short Of the
actual amount of our just cIaims, indie
pendently of the question of damage.
and interest for the detention. That
the settle ment involved sacrifice in this
respect was well known at the ,ime-a
sacrifice which was cheerfully acquiesc-
ed in by the different branches of the
Federal Government, whose action upon
the treaty was required, from sincere
desire to avoid further collision upon
this old and disturbing subject, aud il
the confident expectation that the gen-
eral relations between the two countries
would be improved thereby.
| The refusal to vote the appropriation.
The news of which was received from
our Minister in Paris about the 5,h da,
of May last. might have been considered
the final determination of the Preach
Government not TO execute the stipua-
tionS Of the treaty, and would have JUS
tilted an immediate communication of
'he facts to Congress, with recommep-
dation of such nltimaie mcasures.as the
interest and honor of The United States
might seem to require. Eut with the
news Of the refusal of the Chambers to
make the appropriation, were conveyed
the regrets Of the King, and declara-
ton that national vessel should be-
forthwith sent out, with Instructions to
The French Minister to give the most
ample explanations of the past. and the
strongest assurances for the future. AT
ter long passage the pr~Hised despatch
vessel arrived. The pledges given BY
the French Minister, upon the recelp, Of
his instructions, were, that as soon after
the election Of the new IN ,mbers as the
charter would permit, the Legislative
Il hamhers Of Eranca sLonll Ia e.uaA