South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-12-06


Ayres, to remind that government, that
its long delayed minister, whose APP
pointment had been made known to
US, had not arrived.
1t becomes my unpleasant duty to
inform you that this pacific and highly
gratifying picture Of our foreign rela'
| tons, does not include those with
France at this time. It is not possible
that any government and people could
be more sincerely DESTROYS Of conclia!
ting a just and friendly intercourse with
another nation, than are those Of the
United States with their ancient ally
and friend. This disposition is found!
ed, as well on the most grateful and
honorable recoIlections associated with
our struggle for independence, as upon
! a well.grounded conviction that it is
consonant with the true policy Of both.
The people Of the United States could
not, therefore, see without the deepest
regret, even a temporary interruption
Of the friendly relations between the
two countries--a regret which would,
am sure, be greatly aggravated, If
there should turn out to be any reasons
able ground for attributing such re-
suit TO any act of omission or ommis-
sion on our part. derive, therefore,
the highest satisfaction from being able
to assure you; that the whole course Of
this government has been characterized
by spirit so conciliatory and forbear.
ing, as TO make it impossible that our
justice and moderation should be quess
toned, whatever may be the conse-
quences Of a longer perseverance, on
the part Of the French government, in
her omission to satisfy the conceded
claims of our citizens.
The history of the accumulated and
unprovoked aggtessions upon our come
merce, committed by authority Of the
existing governments of France, be-
tween the years 1900 and 1917, has
been rendered too painfully familiar to
Americans to make its repetition either
necessary or desirable. 1t will be sufa
ficient here to remark, that there has,
for many years, been scarcely single
administration Of the French governs
ment by whom the justice and legality
Of the claims of our citizens TO indeEni4
ty, were not, to a very considerable exa
tent, admitted and yet near quarter
Of a century has been wasted in inefa
fectual negotiations to secure it.
Deeply sensible Of the injurious
effects resulting from this state Of
things upon the interests and charac>
ter of both nations, l regarded it as
among my first duties 10 cause one
more effort to be made to satisfy
France, that just and liberal settle
ment Of our claims was as we'll due
to her own honor as to their incontes-
,ible validity. The negotiation for
this purpose was commenced with the
late government of France, and was
prosecuted with such success, as to
leave no reasonable ground to doubt,
that a settlement of a character quite
as liberal as that which was subse-
quently made, would have been etfects
ed, had not the revolution, by which
the negotiation was cut off, taken
place. The discussions were RESUME
ed with the present government, and
the result. showed, that we were not
wrong in supposing, that an event by
which the two governments were
made to approach each other SO much
nearer in their political principles, and
by which the motives for the most
liberal and friendly intercourse were
so greatly multiplied, could exercise
no other than a saldtary influence up
on the negotiation. After the most
deliberate and thorough examination
of the whole subject, treaty between
The two governments was concluded
and signed at Paris on the 4th of Ju.
ly, 1881, by which it was stipulated
that "the French government, in or.
der to liberate itself from all the recla.
nations preferred against it by citi.
zens of the United States, for unlaw-
ful seizures, captures, representations,
conhscations, or destruction of their YES
sells. cafgoes, or other property, engages
70 pay sum of twenty. five millions OF
francs to the United States, who shall
distribute 1t among those entitled, in the
manner and according to the rules it shall
: determine }" and it was also stipulated
on the part of the French government.
that thus twenty five millions Of francs
should "be paid at Paris in six annual in
stalmsnts offour millions one hundred and
slxty-slx thousand six hundred and sixty-
SIX francs and sixty-six centimes each. in
to the hands of such person or persons
as shall be authorized by the government