The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-10

1t becomes my unpleasant duty to in.
form you, that this pacific and highly gra-
tifying picture ofour foreign relations,does
not include those with France at this time.
Ii is not possible that any Government Il
people could be more sincerely desirous
of conciliating just and friendly inter-
course with another nation,than are those
of the U. s. with their ancient ally and
friend. This disposition is founded as
well on the most grateful and honorable
recollections associated with our struggle
for independence, as upon well ground
ed conviction that ii is consonant with
the true policy of both. The people of
the u. :. could not, therefore, see without
the deepest regret, even temporary in
terruption of the friendly relations be-
tween the two couutries-a regret which
would, | am sure, be greatly aggravated,
ifthere should turn out TO be any reason
able grounds for attributing such result
TO any act of omission or commission on
our part. derive, therefore, the highest
satisfaction from being able to assure you
that the whole course of this Government
has been characterised by spirit so con-
clliatory and iorbearlng as TO make II i'm
possible, that our justice and moderation
should be questioned, whatever may be
the consequence of a longer perseverance,
OH the part of the French Government in
her omission TO satisfy the conceded
claims our citizens.
The history of the accumulated and
unprovoked aggressions upon our COM
merce, committed by authority of the ex-
listing Governments of France, between
the years 1900 and 1917, has been rem
dered too painfully familiar to Americans
to make its repetition either necessary or
desirable. Ii will be sufficient here TO
remark, that there has, for many years,
been scarcely single administration OF
the French Government by whom the
justice and legality of the claims of our
citizens to indemnity, were not, TO a very
considerable extent, admitted and yet
near quarter of century has been
wasted in Intellectual negotiations to Sc
cure it.
Deeply sensible of the injurious effects
resulting from this state of things upon
the interests and character of both ma
tons, Iregarded it as among my first du-
| 10 ,s.so,y sa',oo, s.."s "1''"s .-.''
settlement of our claims was as well due
to her own honour as to their incontcsti-
bic validity. The negotiation for this
purpose was commenced with the late
Government of France, and was prosecu-
ted with such success, as to leave no
reasonable ground to doubt, that a settle
ment of a character quite as liberal as
that which was subsequently made,would
have been affected, had not the revolution,
by which the negotiation was cut OIL,
taken place. The discussions were re,
sumed with the present goveremcnt' ana
the result showed that we were not wrcng
in supposing that an event by which the
two governments were made 10 approach
each other so much nearer in their poliu-
cal PRINCIPLES, and by which the motives
for the most liberal and friendly inter
course were so greatly multiplied, could
exercise no other than salutary iniiu-
ence upon the negotiation. Aiter the
most deliberate and through examination
of the whole subject, treaty between
the two Governments was concluded ano
s;oned at Paris on the 4th of July, 1881
bv which il was stipulated that the
} French Government, in order to bberaie
itself from all the reclamatIons preferred
AGAINST it by the citizens OF the oh'teo
States. for unlawful seizures, captures
seouestrations, confscations, or desfruc'
ton of their vessels, cargoes, or otne'
property, engages to pay sum OF twenty
five millions of francs to the United
States. who shall distribute 1T among
those entitled, in the manner and accor
ding to the rules it shall determine an'
il was also stipulated on the part oi tn
French Government, that this twenty inv
millions of francs should be paio
Paris in six annual instruments OF lou
millions one hundred and sixty-slx thou
sand six hundred and sixty-six francs an
SIX centimes each, in the hands OF sue
person or persons as shall be authorize
bv the Government of the United state
: to receive it," The first instalmcnt to D.
: paid " at the expiration OF one year mex
following the exchange Of the ratiiica'ion
] of this convention, and the others at sue
J cessiye intervals Of n year, one ate
another. till the whole shall be paid. i
J the amount ofeach ofthc said instalmen'
shall be added interest at four per centur
: thereupon, as upon the other instalmen'
then remaining unpaid, the said Intere'
n to be computed from the day Of the eH
: change of the present convention"
: TWAS also stipulated on the part
y the United States, for the purpose OF bein
r completely liberated from all the reclam'
: tions presented BY France on behalf !I,: :
l. its citizens, that the sum Of one miIiio