Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-12

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rauhed by the King of the French terms which are
certainly not mere matters OF FORM and of which the
c srnsa,"n Is as ,olows " VS. approving the above
are contained in it, do decare by ourselves as well as
oy on heirs aud successors that it accepted approved
tatiieu and conhrned and by these presents sied by
our hand, we do accept approve rnfy and confirm il:
promising, OH The faith and word of kim TO olserye
IT. and to it 10 be observed inviolahv Without ever
oon'o'ening ~ or suffering II TO be contraveDed d
whatsoever - =
'he United States reached Paris whilst the Chambers
were in session The extraordinary and to us inirous
ueiays or me French Government in their action upon
oil Its tuhmen have been heretofore stated
TO Congress, aud have disposition TO enlarge upon
them here 1t is sufficient observe that the then
penulng session allowed 10 expire without evcn an
effort To obtain the necessary appropriations: that The
TWO succeeding ones also suffered 10 pass AWAY
without any thing like serious attempt 10 obtain de-
cson upon the subject; and that il was not until the
fourth SESSION. almost three years after the conclusion of
tne treaty. and more than two years after the exchange
oil iahcatons that the bill for the execution of the treaty
was pressed To vote aud rejected
In the meantime the Government Of the United States
having iu'i confidence that treaty entered into and SO
Soiennly rallied by the French King, would be e-secut
cd IN good faith and not doubling that provision would
De made Tor the payment of the first insalment which
was to become due the second day of Ferunrv Sl2
negotiated draft for the amount through the hank OF
the United States. When this draft was presented nv
the holder with the credentials required by the treaty
au'oriLe hIn 10 receive the money, the Government of
France allowed IT to be protested In addition TO the in
Jury IN The non payment of the money by France con-
IhdDy 10 Her engagement, the u ). IN
heavy claim on the part of the Bank under pretence
OF damages in satisfaction of which that institution
sezed upon, and still reians equal the pub.
TIC moneys Congress was IN session when the decision
of the Chambers reached Washington and an immed
ate communication of this apparently final decision of
France MOTT fulfil the stipuatious of the treatv was
The deep tone of dissatisfaction which peryaded the
pubic nnd and the correspondent excitement produced
IN Congress by only general knowledge of the result
rendered it more than probable that resort TO imme
d9e measures OF redress would be the consequence of
ealing The attention OF that body to the subject Sin
Sery desrous OF preserving the pacific relations which
had 50 long existed between the two countries | was
ANXIOUS to avoid this if could be satisfied that
py DONG so, neither the interest the honor of my
country would be compromised. Without the fullest
assurances upon that point, could hone 10 acou
myself OF the responsibility TO be incurred in. SOLDERING
Congress 10 adjourn without laying the subject before
them Those received by me believed to be of
that character.
That the feelings produced in the United States by the
news OF The rejection of the appropriation would be such
as have described them to have been was foreseen b
the French Government, and prompt measures were
'aAeh ny II TO prevent the consequences. The King,
person, expressed through Minister at Paris his pro-
found regret at the decision of the Chambers and
promised to send, forthwith national shin with des
patches TO his Minister here authorizing him to rive
snch assurances rs would satisfy the Government and
People othe United States that the treaty would vet be
faithfully executed by France. The national shin ar
rlHcd, ana the Minister received his Instructions Claim
ing to act under the authority derived from them he
gave 10 this Government in the name of his the most
solemn assurances that, after the elections
as the charter would permit the French Chambers would
De convened and the attempt procure the necessary
appropriations renewed that all the constitutional pow
ers OF the King and his Ministers should To nut in re-
question: to accomplish the object; and he was under
stood and expressly informed by this Co,,ern,ocn, n
the une TO engage that the question should be pressed
to decision at period sufficiently early to permit in
formation OF the result TO be COMMUNICATIVE Congress
at the commencement of their next sessions Relying
upon these assurances, Incurred the responsibility,
great as regarded it to be, of suferinr CONGRESS IN
separate without communicating with them mon Tho
The expectations justly founded upon the promises
thus solemny made to this Government by that Of
France, were not realized. The French Chambers moi
the 3st of July 1884 soon after the election: and al
though our Minister in Paris urged the French Ministry
20 Drng the subject before them they declined doing So
lie next insisted that the Chambers If prorogued with
out acting the subject should be re assembled al
riou 50 early that their action the treaty mgb, be-
knownn Washington prior to the meeting Of Congress-
MS reasonable request was not only declined but the
Chambers were prorogued to the 2Dth of December a
day so late that their dccsion however urgently press
ca, could not IN all probability, be obtained in time TO
reach Washington before the necessary adionrotocnt ~
Congress by the Constitution. The reasons riven Inv
the Ministry for refusing to convokc the Cbaoers NJ w
carly PERIOD were afterwards shown not TO be ns,pcra
ble by their actual convocaon on the LIST of December
under special call for domestic purposes fact
however did not become known to this Government I'm.
gress.
Thus disappointed in just expectations il became
my Imperative duty t. consult with Congress in regard
to tue exPcdency OF resort to retaatory measures in
case the stpulaons Of the treaty should not be speedv
complied with; and 60 recommend such as in mo indy
ca communication Of the case in all its aspect becnne
Indispensable To have shfunk in making it. from saynp
All tha was necessary 10 its Understandings and
at the truth would justify for fear of giving offence TO
others, would have been unworthy of US To have como
on the other hand single step further Cor the pn5noso
OF wounding The pride Of a Government and people with
whon we had SO many motives for cultivalinG relations f
amty and reciprocal advantage would have een o,ose
and improper Admonshcd by the past the difficulty of
mthlng even the simplest statement of our wrongs with
out disturbing the sensbiliIcs OF those who had , .
position become responsible for their redress
~ preventing further from that
1 went out o my way to preclude construction nr die
message, ny which the recOmnend ation that W., made
10 Congress might be regarded a menace TO France i'm
not only dsayowing such design but in declaring that
any thing from her fears Tie message did not rfneL
Fars until more than month after Tie Chambers had
been On session. and such was the psengibiv Of be
Ministry to our rghtlu claims and lust expectations that
our Minister had been Informed that the matter when
introduced would not be- pressed cabinet measure
Although the message not officially communicated
to the French Government, and notwithstanding the de-
cleratoU 20 The contrary which contained the French
Ministry decided To consider the conditional recommend
alton OF rcPfsaisa menace and Insult which te bo
nour OF The nation nude 10 incumbent them 10 rssrnt
The measures resoTcd TO by Them evince their sens
their Minister oi Washington The offer of passpors IN
the American Minister at Paris, and pnbc notice io
the Legislative Chambers that all Diplomatic intercourse
with the United states mad been suspended
Having, in THE manner viudicated the di0ny Of
France they ncXi proceeded 70 illustrate her Justice To
ths end GiIl was Immediately introduced into the
Chamber OF Deputies, proposing make the approprs
tons necessary TO carry into eject thc treaty A. dis
bill subsequently passcd into law tio provisions of
which now constitute tic main suhIcCt Of diHicnlig he
twccn the two Notions. it becomes my duty in order n
place hc snbect before yon in clear light to trace tie