South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-12-13
CONGRESS-.
House Of Representatives.
next week
TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 1884.

TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 1884.
On motion of Mr.. CONNER, the House
resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr.
SpEIGHr IN the Chair on the Message of
the President of the United States.
On motion of Mr.. COMMON, the Com
m,tee proceeded to the consideration Of
the Message of the President, and the
following resolution, moved by Mr.. Con-
NOR, was considered and agreed to.
RESOLVED, That so much of the Presi-
dents Message as relates to the political
relations of the United States with other
nations. be referred to the Committee ON
Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. CLAYTON offered the following
amendment as substitute TO the above
resolution:
"That so much ofthe Presidents Mes.
sage. as relates to the treaty with France,
concluded at Paris on the 4th of July,
1881, be referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, with Instructions to re-
port that it is expedient to await the fur
Their action Of the French Chambers on
the question submitted to them, of grant.
ing the appropriations necessary to car
ry the Treaty into effect, inasmuch as
the delay of consummating its terms,
seems TO have proceeded more from the
delicate and important character Of the
claims resting on voluminous documenta-
ry evidence. their long standing, and the
peculiar complexity ofthe principles in
yoIved in their adjustment, than from
any design, on their part, to impair the
friendly relations which have so long and
happily subsisted between the French
and American Governments, or any de-
sire to evade the performance Of ample
Justice when the whole matter shall have
been fully and fairly considered"
Mr.. Clayton considered the subject
contained in his amendment, zone oflhe
most important which would come be.
fire Congress a. its present session. -
He desired to be distinctly understood,
that in the remarks he should make, he
should divest himself OF all party feel.
ing. He would be The last to raise an
objection to the course recommended
by the Executive upon mere party
grounds. He had no doubt that this
officer had done what he had thought
right, and he had nothing to censure
on that account. But the President,
in regard to our relations with France,
had imposed upon the legislature,
high responsibility, and to this body,
the whole People must look for the con-
sequences which must flow from our
deliberations upon the subject. 1t was
not 10 be disguised, that the course sug
gested by the President, wastantamount
to a declaration of War. The time
nigh come, and circumstances might
arise, when a war might become ne-
cessary, but that time had certainly not
yet arrived.
MFR. C. read several passages from
the Presidents Message on the subject
before the House, ard appealed TO the
candor Of gentlemen to say whether, II
the suggestion, should be approved and
acted on by Congress, it would not e.
ventuate 10 War, and that TOO with one
Of the proudest and most formidable
nations in the world. 1t had been
said that delay was necessary that
the question in controversy, might be
already settled by the action Of the
French Chambers. II so, the course
which he proposed, would show the
friendly feelings Of this nation towards
their ancient ally. By the debates 10
the French Chamber, it seemed tina.
The subject of our claims, was ably con-
tested and opposed on the ground of
right. Was il then to be expected, tina,
what this naughty and high.minded
people would not concede, upon argu-
ment, would be yielded, when they
should be put in possession of the
menaces contained in the Presi.
dents Messenger MIR. C. said thai
there was not at present a jus,ifAbIe
cause Of war on the part Of France, but
SO soon as we should proceed TO carry
into effect the Recommendations of the
Executive, war would be inevitable
He believed our claims were just
that they ought TO be satisfied, but con.
tended that as the French Chambers
under The French constitution had q
right to arrest the treaty, il was i'm
proper tina, our Government should act
so hastily on the subject. Those claims
IT was true, had been pending twenty.
five years. We were, however, assur.