Litchfield enquirer., 1835-12-10

eXCliemfnt produced in Congress by only a
general knowledge OF the result, rendered il
more ina n probable that a resort to Immedi-
ate measures OF redress would be the conse-
quence T calling the ate Niion OF that body 10
the snhjtcu. Sincerely DESTROYS Of preserving
the pacifc relations which had so long exist
ed between the two countries, was anxious
to avoid this course if could be satisfied that
by dningso, neither The interest nor the hon
or Of mycountry would be compromised
Without the fullest assurances upon that
point, GOULD not hope to acquit myself Of the
responsibility TO be incurred, in suffering Con
gress 10 adjourn without laying the subject
hefhre tikm. Those received by me were be
lieved ID be Of that character.
That The feelings produced in the u. States
| by the news of the rejection Of the apprOpri
alton, wbnld he such as have described them
10 have BEEN, was iOreseen by the Frenct
Government, and prompt measures were ia
ken by il 10 prevent the consequences. The
King in person, expressed through our Min
lister at Paris, his profound regret at the de-
cisiOn Of The Chambers, and promised TO
send, forthwith. national ship, with DIES
patches TO his Minister here, authOrising MIN
to give such assurances as would satisfy the
Government and People Of the U. States.
that the treaty would yet he faithfully execut-
ed by France. The national ship arrived,
and The Minister received his Instructions
from them, he gave 10 this Government. in
the name Of his, the most solemn assurances.
that as sOon after the elections as the charter
would permit, the French Chambers would
be convened, and the attempt 10 procure the
necessary appropriations Tenewed-lhat all
constitutional powers of the King and his Mi
nisleFs should be put in reQnsition To accom-.
plish the object; and he was understood, and
=, expressly informed by his Government al
the time, to engage, that the question should
be pressed to decision sufficiently early To
permit information OF the result to be c0mmu.
nicaied To Congress at the commencement Of
their next session. Relying upon these as
suranceS, incurred the responsibility, great
as regarded it to be, Of suffering Congress
To separate without communicating with them
upon the subject.
The expectations Justly founded upon the
promises thus snlennly made to this govern
ment by tina, OF France, were not real'zrd.-|
The French Chambers met On The 3lsi July,
1884 soon after the eiectiOn: and although
our Minister in Paris urged the French Min.
isiry to bring the subject before them, they
declined doing SD. He next insisted that the
Chambers, il prOrogued without acting on the
subject, should be rcassembled at period s"
early that their action 0n the treaty might tie
known in Washington prior To the meeting
Of Congress. This reasonable request was
not uu!y declined, but the Chambers were
prorosued to the Goth OF December, a day
50 late that their decision, however, urgently
pressed. could not, in all probability be OBJ
tanned in time to reach Washington before
the necessary ad)n@rDment ol congress ny
the constitution. The reasons given by the
NJ .nistry for refusing to convoke the Cham.
beers at aD earlier perind, were afterwards
shown not to be insuperable, by their uriual
cunvocaiiOn on the LIST Of December, under
q special call, for domestic Pun poses-which
fact, however, did not become known 10 this
Government until alter The commence ment
Of the session Of Congress.
Thus disappointed in our just expectations. it
became my imperative duty to consult with Con-
gress in regard to the expediency ofa resort to
measures, in case the stipulations OF
he treaty Should not be speedily complied with,
and to recommend such as, in my judgment. the
occasion called for. To this end, on unreserved
communication Of the case, in all its aspects, be.
came Indispensable. To huve shrunk, in max.
ing il, from saying all that was necessary to its
correct understand ing. and that the truth would
justify for fear of giving offence ~ Others would
have been unworthy of us. To have gone, on
the other hand, single step further. for the Pur.
pose OF wounding the pride ia government and
people with whom we had SO many motives for
cultivating relati MS OF amty and reciprocal ad.
vanta 90, would have been unwisc and improper.
AdmonBhed by the past Of tho difficulty OF ma
king even the simplest statement OF our wrongs,
without disturbing the sensbilitios OF those who
had, by their position, come responsible for
their redress, and earnestly DESTROYS Of prevent
ing farther obstacles from that source, ! went
out Of my way TO preclude a construction Of the
message, by which the recommendation that
was made to congress might be regarded as a
menace IN France, in not only dsavowing such
q design, but in declaring that her PRIDE and her
power were too we'll known 10 expect any thing
from her fears. The message did not reach Pa
ris until more than month after the chambers
had been in session; and such was tho insensl-
bity Of the ministry to our rightiul claims aud
lust expectations, that our minister had been IN.
formed that the matter, when introduced, would
not be messed as q cabinet measure.
Although the message was not officially CON-
municated 10 the French government, and not.
withstanding the declaration 10 the contrary
which il contained, the French Ministry decided
70 consider the conditional recommendation OF
reprisals, a menace and an insult which The
honor of the nation made it Incumbent ON them
to resent. The measures resorted TO by them to
cyince their sense of the supposed indignity.
were, the immediate recall Of their Minister at
Washin gton, the offer Of passports to the Amer
lean Minister ot Paris. and public notice to the
legislative Chambers that all diplomatic inter.
course with the United States had been susPen.
ded.
Having, in this manner, vindicated the dignity
Of FRANCE. they merit proceeded to illustrate her
Justice. To this end, bill was immediately IN.
cea into the chamber Of deputies. proposing
10 make the appropriations necessary TO carry
into effect the treaty. As this bill subsequently,
passed into law, The provisions OF which nov
constitute the main subject OF dithcuity between
The two nations, il becomes my duty. in order to
place the subject bef're you in clear light. to
trace the history Of its passage, and TO refer:
with some particularly. to the Rrocsedings ana
discu ssions with regard 10 it. The minister OF
finance in his opening speech. alluded TO the
measures which had been adopted 10 resent the
supposed indignisy. and recommended the exc
cution Of the treaty e. Q measure required oy tho
of the ministry, declared the message. 90 long rs
il had not received tho sanction Of Congress. a
mere expression Of the personal opinion OF the
President, for which neither the government nor
The people Of the Uuited States were Tespons.i
lie. and that an engagement had bsen entered
ibto for the fuliilment of which the honor OF