Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-12
Twcmty-Third Col.grcss---.sei scss.
DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
ON OUR RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.
Saturday, Feb. %, 1885.
MIR. BOULDIN'S REMARKS.

MR. BOULDIN'S REMARKS
Mr.. Boudin, of Virginia, said he had but few
marks to make on the subject lie said il not his
Intention had il been his habit, respass long
the time of the House. He wished TO hear what were
the views of every member, and supposed that every
member wished to understand the opinion and feelings Of
every on the floor upon subject of such mlgni-
tude He would any time trcspass the patience
of the House, much less would he at this me-looking
to the magnitude Of this question and the great quantity
of other business that must be done in the short time
left of this session.
He thought there but question before this
House and this naton in relation this subject that
required be answered at this time The question
whether this debt. secured by this treaty be paid
should be abandoned or insisted Other questions
had been suggested in France and this country but no
other question had been made here The President had
advised measures under certain contingencies But no
other question had been raised by the constituted author
ties of either country but this Shall the treaty aban-
doned or not? He considered this very material
question to be decided The debates in the French
Chamber of Deputies showed that much reliance was
placed the belief that this country would not insist i'm
the last resort the payment of this money 1t was in
his opinion very natural inquiry and was the an xious
inquiry OF this country and France. He said il was fit
that should answer to it, If we abandoned the claim
there end of it. If we did not the mode and
time of asserting rights with ourselves He said
he had listened with much pleasure and interest TO his
colleague (Mr Archery and had been loss TO deter
mine what the conclusion of which be veal times
spoke, that he would to- He said. BIC understood
him at last to come to the conclusion that the treaty
not obligatory
For this he gives two First that until the
vote of the Chambers had, making approximations
for the payment, the Treaty not final. Upon this
point he would say nothing His colleague DIR Pat
tom had answered that fully-perfectly Indeed the
eentlemans argument that point, if it proved any
thing, would prove that there obligation on the
part of the Government to pay any officer for services
already rendered until this House shall vote o a
pration. Secondly, my colleague (BIr Archer Thought
we had been too precPitate too hasty. What did he
think hastyrather what did he think reasonable time
to negotiated quarter of century he thought not
long enough. Would he say how long would be long
enough! Would 10 years be long enough? Mr. b.
said he willing if we had been fasty, 10 Withdraw
negotiate again But before he entered again into
Element he wished to know how long would do. 1t was
not claim OF our Government-which he said he wish
ed might live forever 1t the claim of indviduals
most of whom dead and gone, and most of their
descendants likewise. If wait much longer we shall
also be dead and gone, and then he supposed there
would be close of the matter. Mr. s colleague said
if we had waited, we would have got much more. He
said he wished to be serious, and But his col
league had reminded him of (hc would not call
names) that he knew of An old gentleman had
daughter who remained single till she more than
90 when she then thought proper TO marry and did
Her father Directing the match said if Peggy had not
been in such hurry she might have done very we'll
The gentleman asks if really would 90 TO war for
i've millions OF doiars' Many suit is brought where
the cost is more than the demand. Will fight if
you sptin his face! Suppose the of my colleague
but the is not supposabeyet if it were SUPPOSE
bic, should spit in the face of my colleague would
he wash his face and say it was not worth esnng In
such case, it would generally be cheapest say with
most Of us, that would wash il off, and our faces
would be cleaner than they before in almost every
case, 1T would be best but for thng-the neigh
Dor standlng 3y ana seeing we had submitted to that
would do another and worse thing. We were reminded
in the French Chambers that we had taken from others
why not from them.
He said that he agreed with the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts that his colleagues argument made up
OF fear Did his colleague read the debate in the French
Chamber, and did he not that the most talented of
the opposition there relied mainly that were a mo-
neyovng, money getting people, and would never
spend 10000 600 to get fvcS lie knew that il was aiI
fetch Che asked his colleague pardon) lie knew there
was no fear in him The French and his colleague he
thought, both mistaken He said he heard with plea
and PRIDE for his country and his colleague when
he spoke of our commerce covering, with unnumbcrcd
millions, every lie asked if obtained that com.
merce the protection oft by fcarby areume nts such
his colleague had advanced. We had a name in the
world as nation, of which every American was proud
We had respect in the eye of all nations which had
not failed to be acknowledged by them Did we acquire
this by arguments and practices botomcd conside-
ratioDs Of fear When were acquiring this did we
show to the world that regarded more our personal
security than rights and honor? Did we then
consider whether our ducks or our borns ,ver in d,r
sea-coast? Far from It, Did the gentleman him
self-and he says he thinks the nation honoris his own
honor-und would defend and maintain them both by
the same means-when he acquiring that respect
and esteem winch ne so securely maintains in the bosom
of his friends and his colleagues act from fclngs and
arguments such as these advanced by him? When
we receive an injury, and resent IT, If get bloody
nose your adversary is likely to get u is well
for both TO value this.
Did the gentleman read the debates i'm the French
Chambers' Are M his the very arguments put
into our mouths there, II refuse defend rights
and bring the whole 10 a calculation of dollars and COME
will not all the world deal with accordngly2 We
have cxacted from other nations payment and received
IT, for similar injuries. We persuaded them we would
III.
now after all that, when it to the trial and e
have lqudated the claim, and taken the bond and pay
men refused do not rights To be spcctcd
what may we expect? Why, that those who have been
compelled 10 pay will say, you bullicd of it, but
whom came to the point with The French you rave
up therefore TO be equal you pay US back with
interest Ifyou do not Wen 20 on the high seas and
we will shoot your ducks will burn YOU barns. and
do worse than the French would have done
lie said he would repeat the question Shall we give
up the money insist the payment Of III II Is no
uncommon case after dealing Of 20 years standno up
on settlement and bond taken, if any thing said about
suit for the money that statute ofnitatons usurv eao
bling extortion, other plea bin Ofnnnciion
IS threatened But the creditor has only 10 decide wfe
Their he will give up The debt or not man talks and
sholes with you for p years and at last gives his bond
waits four or i've years, and when you call on him for
the money proposes 70 settle again-draws some nice
distinction, admitting the obligation treaties and bonds
and the authorities ofugcns to make settlements bat de-
nyng the obligation to pay the money Sir is not this
trhing with man? Sir, said Mr.. II no more neooto
lions about this debit he'd rather give up Che deb1tban
negotiate again.
Sir when that same France was ground into the dust
Ousty or unustly) for peace sakefor loves sakeer
grauude-or past kindness, II not ffondship-we for
bore, and said 70 her, we will not press Won nov
others we Will compel TO paywe said by our actions
but y0H we viii not urge just now, we will settle with
you IN your own time And she has settled in her own
time, aud taken her own time ofpsyment Much was s,id