Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-17

kha&k - 49,
and which had been SO frequently and
solemnly announced as the only one
compatible with the honor Of France,
was maintained, aud the bill PASSED as
originally proposed, the money "oula
be paid, and there would be an end OF
this unfortunate controversy.
But this cheering prospect was soon
DESTROYED BY an amendment introduced
into the bill al the moment OF It's pas.
sare, providing that the money should
not be paid until the French Govern
ment had received satisfactory expla-
nations ofthe message pf2d Dec. 1884;
and what is still more extraordinary,
the Pres't Of the Council of Ministers a.
dopted this amen lmsnt, 81 consented to
its incorporation in the bill. In regard
to a Supposed insult which had been
formally resented by the recall other
Minister, and the offer Of passports TO
ours, they now for tho first time, pro-
posed to ask explanations. Sentiments
and propositions, which they had de.
clared could not Justly be imputed to
tho Government or People OF the Uni
ted States, are set up as obstacles 10
the performance of an act Of conceded
Justice to that Government and People.
They had declared that the honor Of
France required the fulilment of the
engagement into witch the King had
entered, unless Congress adopted the
recommendations Of the Message
They as~certainod that Congress did not
adopt them, and yet that fulflment is
refused, unless they obtain from the
President explanations Of nm opinion
characterized by them as personal and
imperative.
The conception that it was my in
tention to menace or insult the Gov
eminent Of France, is as %unfounded as
the attempt to oxtort from the fears of
that nation what her sense of justice
may deny, would be vain and ridicu-
lous. But the constitution OF the Uni
ted States imposes on the President the
duty ~oflaying before Congress the con-
dition ofthe country in its foreign and
domestic relations, and of recommend
ing such measures as may in his opin-
ion be required by its interests. From
the performance Of this duty he cannot
be deferred by the fear Of wounding
the sansibllities Of the People or Gov
ernmant Of whom it may become ne
cessary to speak; and the American
people are incapable Of submitting to
an interference, by any Government
on earth, however powerful, with the
free performance oft1c domestic duties
which the constitution has imposed on
their public fuuctionaries. The discus
sions which intervene between the Sc
veral departments Of Il Government
belong to ourselves; and, for anything
said in them, our public servants are
responsible to their owA constituents,
and to each other. If, in the course of
theit consultations, facts are CHROME
ously stated, OF unjust deductions are
made, they require no other induce
to correct them, however infor-
med Of their error, than their love of
justice, ana what is due to their own
character bat they can never submit
to be intorrogotod upon the subject, as
a matter of right, by a foreign power.
When our discussions terminate in acts,
our responsibility to foreign nations
commences, not as individuals, but as
a nation. The principle which calls
in question the President for the Ian
guage Of his message, would equally
Justify a foreign power in ~demandsng
explanation ofthe language used in a
report Of a committee, or by amcmber
in debate.
This is not the first time that the
Government of France has taken eX'
captions to the Messages of American
Presidents. President Washington d
thefrst President Adams, in the per-
formance oftheir duties to the Ameri-
can People, fell under the animadver-
sions Of the French Directory. The
objection taken by the Ministry Of
Charles X, and removed by the eXpla-
nations made by our Minister upon the
spot, has already been adverted to-
When it was understood that the Minis
try OF the present King took exception
to my message Of last year, putting a
construction upon it which was disa-
vowed on its face, our late Minister at
Paris, in answer to the note which first
announced q dissatisfaction with the
language used in the Message, made a
communication 10 the French Govern
ment under date orthe Goth OF January
1895, calculated to remove all impros.
sions which an unreasonable suscepti-
bil;ty had created. He repeated, and
called tho attention ofthc French Gov
eminent to, the d~isavowaI contained in
she Message itself, of any intention to
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