Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-07-09


communication to your predecessor in office on the
subject In this under the reserve that the Prcsl-
dent could not be called on for an explanation,
did in fac, give one, that thought would have
removed all injurious Impressions This IS the hrst
oi the fortunate circumstances to which have al
luded-tortunatc in being made before any demlnd
implying right 10 require II ; fortunate III It's
containing, without any knowledge OF the precise
parts OF the MESSAGE which gave offence, answers
TO all that have since come 10 my knowledge. lean
easily conceive that the communication oi winch |
speak, made as lcNprcssl, stated without previous
authority from my Government, nigh not have had
the effect which It's matter wis intended 10 pkplucc,
but II has since (as have now IN Ito
inform your Excclcncy) received iromA ass
dent his full and unqualified appreciation. nnfsil
is necessary to add that this was given before he
had any intimation of an intention to attach II rs
condition 10 the payment OF the indemnity due b,
the Treaty given not onl, when he was ignorant
OF any such intent, but when he was informed
by France that she intended 10 execute the treaty,
and saw by the law which was introduced that II
not To be icitcred b, any such condition.
Thus that is already done by voluntary act,
which could hot have been done when required rs
Alright, still less when made, what will unqnestion-
ably IN the United States be considered degrading,
as "A condition Al this time, sir, would for no
could 81 far FORGET what under present eircum-
stances would be due 10 the dignit, "t my country,
| should be dsavowcd and dcscrvcdly d>avowed,
b, thePrcsidcnt II is happy therefore, repeat
that the good feeling OF my country was cvinced
in the manner have stated AT the only time when
II could be done with honor and though present
circumstances would forbid N, making the com
muncation then did, they do not prevent my
icrrng to IT for the purpose o showing that 1t con
tains, as | have stated il docS, every thing that
ought 10 have been satisfactory. Actual crrnni-
stances enable me to do this now future events,
which need not explain, ma, hereafter render II
improper; and it may be nngatory, unless ac-
ccptcd as satisfactory before the occurrence Of
those events. Let il he examined with the care
which the importance OF giving it a true conslruo
lion requires.
The objections to the message, as fal rs can
understand for they never have been specified,
First, that i, impcachcs the good Faith OF h,s NJ,
lcsty's Government.
Secondly, that il contains "A menace of cnlor
cling the performance of the treaty by rcprsals.
On the first head were now discussing. thr
terms of the Message itself, II would be easy 10
show that it contains no such charge. The allega-
ton that the stipulailons OF treaty have not been
complied with, the engagements made by Ministers
have not been fulfilled couchcd in respectful terms
can never be deemed offensive even when express
" directed to the party whose intraclons cont,
planned of; and consequently can never give cause
for demand of explanations otherwise, II Is cvi-
dent that no consideration of national injuries
could ever take place. The message, critically
examined on this point contain, nothing more than
such enumeration OF the causes of complaints As
10 its terms, the most fil>dous disposition cannot
iasicn one that could be excepted to. The FIRST
refusal and subsequent delay complained OF,
but no unworthy motives for either are charged or
nsinnatcd. On the whole, if ! were commission
ed 10 explain and defend this part OF the message,
should say, with the conviction of TRUTH thai il is
impossible to urge complaint in mildcr more
temperate terms but am not commissioned.
! am endcavoring 10 show not only that every
proper explanation is given IN my letter To NJ. DE
Rgney, of the 10Th of January last, but that in cS-
press terms, it declares that the sincerity Of his
Malcsty's Government, in their desire To execute
the treaty, was not doubted. Suffer to draw yoar
Excccncy's attention TO the passages alluded TO-
In discussing the nature of MIR. Srruricr's engage
mcni, say, ait is clear, therefore, that NOR WIS
required than the expression Of "A desire ON the
part of his Majcstys Ministers to execute the
treaty. n desire, the sincerity NJ rhich rat
ncrer doubi,d, bm ,ohich migM bc nnaraiag.
as It's accomplishment drpcndcd on hc rotr
Of the Chambers" Aean, in speaking of tho
delay which occurred in the month of Dcccm-
ber | say, 1T is referred TO presume, in
order to show that it was produced by desire, On
the part of his Majcsiy's Ministers, the better to
assure the passage Of the law Of this, sir, never
had "A doubt, and Immediately 50 advised my CO.
yernmcnt, and informed it, as it was the fact thai
perfectly acqucscod in the delay" Thus, il
must be evident, not only that no offensive charge
of -laith is made in the message, bat that, as is
expressly stated in the first extract full Justice was
done at Washington TO the intention, of the
French Government. While the delay is com
planned of as wrong, no improper motives are al
iribncd to the Government in causing il. Again,
sir the whole tenor of that part OF my letter which
relates to the execution of the promise made by
Mr.. Scruricr while it asserts the construction pm,
upon By the President 10 be the true one and ap-
paas to facts and circumstances 10 support that
construction yet it avoids charging the French
Government with any intentional violation, attri-
buting their delay to erroneous construction on
w. for, in the letter, Il again quote litcrally,)
SLY, have entered into this detail with the OBJ
cct of showing that although the Minister, of the
King under the Interpretations which they seem to
have given to Mr.. Scruriers promise, may have
considered themselves at liberty to defer the pre-
scntation of the law until the period which they
thought would best secure its success vet the Pre-
sident, interpreting the promise differently feeling
that in consequence of it he had forbornc To do
what might be strictly called "a duty, and seeing
that its performance had not taken place. could not