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

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: INTO full execution; and France has, iron
/ that period to the present. been in the un
J, restricted enjoyment of the valuable priv
i leges that were thus secured to her. Tn
: faith Of the French nation having beer
: thus solemnly pledged, through lis consti
D tutional organ. for the liquidation and al
9 innate payment Of the long deferred claims
. oil our citizens, as also for the adjustment
OF other points Of great and reciprocal be
netits to both countries, and the United
States, having with a fidelity and prompt
tude by which their conduct will, trust
: be always characterized, done every thine
that was necessary TO carry the treaty in
TO full and fair effect on their part, count
ed, with the most perfect confidence, on
equal fidelity and promptitude on the
: part oil the French government. la thi:
reasonable expectation we have been,
regret to inform you, wholly disappointed
No legislative provision has been made By
France for The execution OF the treaty, eli.
Their as it respects the indemnity to be
paid, or the commercial benefits to be Sc
cured to the United States, and the rela-
tons between the United States and that
power, in consequence thereof, are placed
in situation threatning to interrupt the
good understanding which has so long and
so happily existed between the two ma
tons.
| Not only has the French government
been thus wanting in the performance Of
the stipulations it has so solemnly entered
into with the United States, but its omis.
sions have been marked by circumstances
which would seem to leave US without sat.
isfactary evidences, that such perform
ance will certainly take place at a future
period Advice of the exchange Of ratifi
cations reached Paris prior TO the Sth Of
April, 1889. The French chambers were
then sitting and continued in session until
the 2lst Of that month, and although one
instalment of the indemnity was payable
on the 2d7of February, 1888, one year at
ter the exchange Of notifications, no appli.
cation was made TO the chambers for the
required appropriation and in consequence
of no appropriation having then been made
the draft Of the United States government
| for that instalment, was dishonored by the
minister OF finance, and the United States
thereby involved in much controversy.
| The next session of the chambers com
menced on the 10Th Of November, 1882,
and continued until the 25th April 1888.
notwithstanding the omission to pay the
first instalment, had been made the sub.
iect of earnest remonstrance on our part
the treaty with the United States, and
! bill making the necessary appropriation
to execute il, were not laid before the
chamber of deputies until the 9th of April.
nearly five months after its meeting. and
only nineteen days before the close of the
session. 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 a6,h of
April, 1888, and continued until the 26th
of June following A new bill was intro.
duced on the ! 18th Of June. but nothing
important was done in relation to it during
the session. In the month of April 1884,
nearly three years after the signature OF
the treaty, the final action OF the French
Ichambers upon the bill to carry the treaty
into effect, was obtained, and resulted in q
refusal Of the necessary appropriations.
The avowed grounds upon which the bill
was rejected, are TO be found in the pub.
lished debates of that body, and no obser
vations of mine can be necessary to satisfy
congress of their utter insufficiency AL
though the gross amount Of the claims oil
our citizens is probably greater than will
be ultimately allowed by the commission
ers, sufficient is, nevertheless, shown, 10
!. render it absolutely certain that the indem
nity falls far short of the actual amount o
our Just claims, independently Of th,
question of damages and interest for thu
detention. That the settlement involved
j | sacrifice in this respect was well known
. l A. .aor.Goa xuk..h oh
, fully acquiesced in by the different branch
! es Of the federal government, whose actor
upon the treaty was required, from sin
, | cere desire to avoid further collision upor
: this old and disturbing subject, and in tn
! confident expectation that the general re
lation between the two countries would b,
Improved thereby.
The refusal to vote the appropriation
! | the news OF which was received from ou
f minister in Paris about the 18th Of Ma
4 last, might have been considered the fins
i, determination OF the French government
|. not to execute the stipulations Of the trea
s ty, and would have justified an immediat
d communication of the facts to congress
n with recommendation Of such ultima'
8; measures as the interest and honor Of III
IS United States might seem to require. 81
, with the news of the refusal OF the chan
Is bers to make the appropriation. were cor
/. veyed the regrets Of the king. and dee
ST Iaration that a national vessel should
in forthwith sent out, with instructions to Il
IS French minister to give the most amp
E. explanations of the past, and the stronl
gest assurances for the future After
n long passage the promised despatch vess
or arriTed. The pledges given by the Fren'
n minister, upon receipt OF his instruction
ed we're, that as soon after the election OF q
ty new members as the charter would perm
Is, the legislative chambers Of France shou
pie be called together, and the proposition
Ter an appropriation laid before them Ii
re- all tue constitutional powers OF the ki
ty aud his cabinet should be exerted to
he complish the object; and that the res
he should be made known early enough
be communicated TO congress at the co
the mencement Of the present session, he
of ing upon these pledges, and not doubt
vas that the acknowledged justice OF our ciai'
on the promised exertions of the king
: of b;s cab;nat and above all, that sac